Shirley's bookshelf: all en-US Wed, 19 Mar 2025 08:05:21 -0700 60 Shirley's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Come Home 12037026
But Jill’s life is turned upside down when her ex-stepdaughter, Abby, shows up on her doorstep late one night and delivers shocking news: Jill’s ex-husband is dead. Abby insists that he was murdered and pleads with Jill to help find his killer. Jill reluctantly agrees to make a few inquiries and discovers that things don’t add up. As she digs deeper, her actions threaten to rip apart her new family, destroy their hard-earned happiness, and even endanger her own life. Yet Jill can’t turn her back on a child she loves and once called her own.]]> 371 Lisa Scottoline 0312380828 Shirley 3 suspense, 2025-books
**Re read- I guess this says a lot about the impression this book made on me. Just finished re-reading it and I actually don’t recall reading it before!
This one seemed to drag on. The detail in the descriptions was over the top - like taking the damp, red, flowered towel from the towel bar to the right of the stove to wipe the crumbs and spills off the table and the countertops. Not an actual quote - but the author seemed to use so many extra words to say everything.
Some hard to believe parts too - the FBI agent asks to use Jill's cell phone - really? It seemed to take forever to come to a conclusion. And the cover? - there were no young kids in the book? Not sure the title was an appropriate fit either.]]> 3.58 2012 Come Home
author: Lisa Scottoline
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/18
date added: 2025/03/19
shelves: suspense, 2025-books
review:
Disappointing book - and I usually quite enjoy Scottoline's books. Dragged out, meaningless and repetitive dialogue, took a long time to reach the conclusion. Story plot was a good one, discovering if the ex had been murdered, but took too many side trips before reaching the destination. Not one other best works.

**Re read- I guess this says a lot about the impression this book made on me. Just finished re-reading it and I actually don’t recall reading it before!
This one seemed to drag on. The detail in the descriptions was over the top - like taking the damp, red, flowered towel from the towel bar to the right of the stove to wipe the crumbs and spills off the table and the countertops. Not an actual quote - but the author seemed to use so many extra words to say everything.
Some hard to believe parts too - the FBI agent asks to use Jill's cell phone - really? It seemed to take forever to come to a conclusion. And the cover? - there were no young kids in the book? Not sure the title was an appropriate fit either.
]]> <![CDATA[Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss]]> 193091
Hardbound; 56 full-color pages. Affirms the bereaved. Educates the un-bereaved. A building-block for children..... WINNER! of the 2001 Theologos Book Award, presented by the Association of Theological Booksellers.]]> 56 Pat Schwiebert 0961519762 Shirley 5 2025-books, realistic-fiction So many good messages about how grief is different for everyone and that there is no time line for you to move on. And the messages about friends who support you were especially poignant. I have read it multiple times and will continue to read it as time goes on. Each read seems to highlight a new message for me.
I will definitely keep this book in mind to buy for friends who come into great loss in the future.]]> 4.57 1999 Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss
author: Pat Schwiebert
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.57
book published: 1999
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/08
date added: 2025/03/16
shelves: 2025-books, realistic-fiction
review:
I loved this book. Having recently suffering a great loss, the message about grieving in Tear Soup was so very meaningful. Comparing the cooking of tear soup to the grieving process was so well done. Gorgeous illustrations in this book, but this message is for adults - not a children's book. I don’t think kids would understand the significance.
So many good messages about how grief is different for everyone and that there is no time line for you to move on. And the messages about friends who support you were especially poignant. I have read it multiple times and will continue to read it as time goes on. Each read seems to highlight a new message for me.
I will definitely keep this book in mind to buy for friends who come into great loss in the future.
]]> <![CDATA[What She Really Wants: A Story]]> 25338222 Is it really the thought that counts? Sarah Markham loves her husband Tom. They've been married for eighteen happy years, but on some level, she worries that he doesn't see her as she really is. And nowhere is this more evident than in his gift giving. It's not for any lack of love--Tom adores Sarah and spends lavishly--but he never quite surprises her with the perfect something. Enough. This year, when their anniversary rolls around, Sarah tells him, "I want you to think and to look at me and to see who I really am and what I really want."Can Tom rise to the challenge? Will he be able to get Sarah what she really wants? Find out in this delightful 16-page short story, a gift to you from bestselling author Barbara Delinsky.]]> 25 Barbara Delinsky 1250084342 Shirley 3 2025-books, fiction Sarah wants her husband to surprise her with an anniversary gift and feels he should know what would make her happy. Just as he starts to uncover clues about what she really wants, it was over. Predictable too.]]> 3.73 2015 What She Really Wants: A Story
author: Barbara Delinsky
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/22
date added: 2025/02/23
shelves: 2025-books, fiction
review:
Well I was surprised it was just a short story! It seemed like it was winding up and I thought wait - how can that be? So I was disappointed.
Sarah wants her husband to surprise her with an anniversary gift and feels he should know what would make her happy. Just as he starts to uncover clues about what she really wants, it was over. Predictable too.
]]> The Sea Gate 54396859
After Rebecca’s mother dies, she must sort through her empty flat and come to terms with her loss. As she goes through her mother’s mail, she finds a handwritten envelope. In it is a letter that will change her life forever.

Olivia, her mother’s elderly cousin, needs help to save her beloved home. Rebecca immediately goes to visit Olivia in Cornwall only to find a house full of secrets—treasures in the attic and a mysterious tunnel leading from the cellar to the sea, and Olivia, nowhere to be found.

As it turns out, the old woman is stuck in hospital with no hope of being discharged until her house is made habitable again. Rebecca sets to work restoring the home to its former glory, but as she peels back the layers of paint and grime, she uncovers even more buried secrets—secrets from a time when the Second World War was raging, when Olivia was a young woman, and when both romance and danger lurked around every corner...

A sweeping and utterly spellbinding tale of a young woman’s courage in the face of war and the lengths to which she’ll go to protect those she loves against the most unexpected of enemies.]]> 416 Jane Johnson 1982169338 Shirley 3 2025-books, fiction 3.91 2020 The Sea Gate
author: Jane Johnson
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/18
date added: 2025/02/19
shelves: 2025-books, fiction
review:
Took me a while to get through this one. Rebecca, on losing her mother, finds a letter from her mother's cousin. Having her own share of problems in her life, she decides to head off to visit this elderly lady and ends up helping her to return home from hospital. Secrets from the past are revealed. A basement tunnel is discovered leading out to the sea, with even more hidden secrets. The story goes back and forth from present day with Rebecca to war time events with the elderly cousin, Olivia. I would rate it at 3.5 stars, not quite a 4. Loved the cover!
]]> Stealing Mona Lisa 9829639 Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2011 Fiction and a Library Journal Best Mystery of 2011

What happens when you mix a Parisian street orphan, a hot-tempered Spanish forger, a beautiful American pickpocket, an unloved wife, and one priceless painting?
The charming Eduardo de Valfierno makes a very respectable living in Argentina fleecing the nouveau rich—they pay him to steal valuable pieces of art, and Valfierno sells them flawless forgeries instead. But when Eduardo meets the beautiful Mrs. Hart on his latest con, he takes a risk that forces him back to the city he loved and left behind—Paris. There he assembles his team of con artists for their final and most ambitious theft, one that will enable them to leave the game forever: The Mona Lisa.

But when a member of the team turns up missing, and Mr. Hart shows up in Paris, Valfierno and his crew must stay one step ahead of a relentless police inspector, endure a devastating flood, and conquer their own doubts to keep the priceless painting in play—and survive.

Based on the actual theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in 1911, and published on the 100th anniversary of the crime, Stealing Mona Lisa is a sophisticated, engaging caper, complete with a richly imagined group of con artists and a historical mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Stealing Mona Lisa is a Kirkus Reviews Best of 2011 Mysteries title.
One of Library Journal's Best Mystery Books of 2011]]> 340 Carson Morton 031262171X Shirley 3 2024-books, fiction 3.61 2011 Stealing Mona Lisa
author: Carson Morton
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/07
date added: 2024/11/08
shelves: 2024-books, fiction
review:
Based on the real story of the theft of the Mona Lisa. Interesting. Descriptive. I felt the novel really got going part way through.
]]> <![CDATA[One Last Lie (The Governess, #1)]]> 213306953 governess Mary Wilcox has dealt with more than her fair share of rich families, and she does so with patience and grace.

But she’s not used to dealing with murder.

When Mary moves into the grand Ashford estate to assume her role as a governess to three children, she is met with the polite formality of the estate’s matriarch and the curiosity of three children.

Little does she know she is stepping foot into a nest of secrets and lies.

As Mary becomes more involved with the family, she begins to suspect foul play in the recent death of the family’s patriarch. Even as she battles her own past demons and struggles to separate past from present, she is forced to wonder—which of the family members should she be protecting?

And who should she be afraid of?

“An edge of your seat thriller in a new series that keeps you turning pages! ...So many twists, turns and red herrings� I can't wait to see what happens next.�
—Reader review (Her Last Wish)
⭐⭐⭐⭐�

ONE LAST LIE (THE BOOK 1) is the first book in a long-anticipated new psychological thriller series by #1 bestseller and USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose bestseller The Perfect Wife (a free download) has received over 20,000 five star reviews.

Future books in the series are also available!

“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery.�
—Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)
⭐⭐⭐⭐�

“A strong, complex story about two FBI agents trying to stop a serial killer. If you want an author to capture your attention and have you guessing, yet trying to put the pieces together, Pierce is your author!�
—Reader review (Her Last Wish)
⭐⭐⭐⭐�

“A typical Blake Pierce twisting, turning, roller coaster ride suspense thriller. Will have you turning the pages to the last sentence of the last chapter!!!�
—Reader review (City of Prey)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐]> 212 Blake Pierce Shirley 3 2024-books, mystery 3.68 One Last Lie (The Governess, #1)
author: Blake Pierce
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.68
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/16
date added: 2024/10/17
shelves: 2024-books, mystery
review:
Mary Wilcox, a governess comes to work for a family that has just lost their father and husband. Suspicions arise that he may have been murdered. Mary decides to investigate. A little far fetched that the governess turned detective and she didn’t seem to be doing a lot of her caring for the children. The oldest takes off into the woods, the middle child looks after the youngest. So other than having breakfast with them, her duties seem pretty limited. There were some twists and turns before reaching the conclusion, which made it more interesting. Not a page turner, but an okay, quick read.
]]> Broken Life (Ivy Pane #1) 206171776 When FBI Agent Ivy Pane is injured in the line of duty and loses the functioning of her right arm, she returns to her hometown defeated, expecting her career to be over, and haunted by memories of her missing sister. But when a local killer surfaces, Ivy soon finds herself needed by the local police force—and soon realizes she may just be the only one with a chance to stop him before he strikes again.

As victims turn up in a long-abandoned tunnel system, the only clue is the scent of burning candles. Former FBI agent Ivy Pane must re-learn the skills she needs to function again—and to stop this macabre murderer before it’s too late.]]> 206 Laura Rise Shirley 3 2024-books, thriller 3.97 2024 Broken Life (Ivy Pane #1)
author: Laura Rise
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/07
date added: 2024/10/08
shelves: 2024-books, thriller
review:
As far as a thriller mystery goes, it was okay. Ivy Pane, an injured FBI agent returns to her home town and ends up consulting on a murder case. This author was so wordy. Lots of descriptive phrases that then went on and on. It got a bit tedious. Some things seemed to be a bit of a stretch. When confronting a possible murder suspect, she goes alone. Really? An FBI agent would know better than to go in without backup. I think the series has potential though.
]]> The Women 127305853 De la autora superventas de El Ruiseñor , una historia de mujeres valientes decididas a arriesgar su vida por los demás en uno de los momentos más peligrosos de la historia.

Inspiradas por el coraje. Ligadas por la amistad. Unidas por la esperanza.

«Las mujeres pueden ser heroínas». Cuando Frankie McGrath, estudiante de enfermería de veinte años, oye por primera vez estas inesperadas palabras, siente una revelación. Criada en el idílico y soleado sur de California y protegida por sus conservadores padres, siempre se ha enorgullecido de hacer lo que se espera de ella, de ser una buena chica. Pero en 1966 el mundo está cambiando y, de repente, su vida parece abrirse a nuevas posibilidades. Cuando su hermano parte para combatir en Vietnam, ella se une de manera impulsiva al Cuerpo de Enfermeras del Ejército para seguirle.

Allí, Frankie se siente igual de inmadura e inexperta que los jóvenes enviados para luchar, y se ve abrumada por el caos y la destrucción de la guerra. Además, un trauma inesperado la golpea al volver a casa, el de encontrar un país cambiado y dividido, un país que quiere olvidar. Frankie descubrirá el verdadero valor de la amistad y el dolor que puede causar un corazón roto.

***Número 1 en las listas de best sellers de The New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, la Asociación de Librerías Independientes, Los Angeles Times, Publishers Weekly, Amazon, Audible y Los Angeles Daily News***

Sobre la novela han
«De nuevo, Hannah ilumina con su luz a mujeres que la historia ha ignorado».
People Magazine

«Hannah está en su mejor momento en esta novela».
The New York Times

«Conmovedora y excepcionalmente documentada».
Stephen King

«ʴǻDz».
Matt Haig, autor de La biblioteca de la medianoche

«Kristin Hannah, una de las mejores narradoras de nuestro tiempo, aborda una de las más crueles y viles guerras del último Vietnam. Las mujeres de la guerra revela la enorme contribución y los horribles sacrificios de las enfermeras militares que sirvieron en ella... Nunca una novela de guerra se ha metamorfoseado tan profundamente en una historia sobre el corazón humano».
Delia Owen, autora de La chica salvaje

«Este libro es ficción histórica en su mejor versión. Tan conmovedor, tan desgarrador, y, sin embargo, en última instancia, optimista. ¡Bravo!».
Nicholas D. Kristof, ganador del Premio Pulitzer y coautor de La mitad del cielo

«Deslumbra con su sacrificio; y eleva el ánimo con su heroísmo... Un importante y largamente esperado tributo a las valientes enfermeras que sirvieron en Vietnam».
Bonnie Garmus, autora de Lecciones de química

«Los fans de los libros históricos protagonizados por mujeres van a disfrutar esta magnética novela».
Publishers Weekly

Please This audiobook is in Spanish.]]> 471 Kristin Hannah 1250178630 Shirley 4
As much as I consider it a four star book, there were a few things that bothered me about it. After Frankie's return home to California, the book dragged for me. She needed help and wasn’t getting it and this seemed to go on and on. Not sure the title was the right one for this book. It was Frankie's story and Frankie’s experiences. I know she was representative of the other women who served in a Vietnam and were basically ignored upon their return, but still, not sure the title was the right fit.

It was interesting to read about America's reaction to this war and to those who served. I learned a few things. ]]> 4.58 2024 The Women
author: Kristin Hannah
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.58
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/28
date added: 2024/09/28
shelves: 2024-books, historical-fiction
review:
I have enjoyed all of this authors books so far and was excited to read The Women. It was well written and the details of life in Vietnam were heart wrenching and real. I felt as if I were in those medical camps with the blood, the noise and the heartbreak holding the hands of dying soldiers.

As much as I consider it a four star book, there were a few things that bothered me about it. After Frankie's return home to California, the book dragged for me. She needed help and wasn’t getting it and this seemed to go on and on. Not sure the title was the right one for this book. It was Frankie's story and Frankie’s experiences. I know she was representative of the other women who served in a Vietnam and were basically ignored upon their return, but still, not sure the title was the right fit.

It was interesting to read about America's reaction to this war and to those who served. I learned a few things.
]]> The Teacher 195967140 A mind-bending, psychological thriller from Freida McFadden, the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Housemaid!

Lesson #1: trust no one

Eve has a good life. She gets up each day, gets a kiss from her husband Nate, and heads off to teach math at the local high school. All is as it should be. Except�

Last year, Caseham High was rocked by a scandal involving a student-teacher affair, with one student, Addie, at its center. But Eve knows there is far more to these ugly rumors than meets the eye.

Addie can't be trusted. She lies. She hurts people. She destroys lives. At least, that's what everyone says.

But nobody knows the real Addie. Nobody knows the secrets that could destroy her. And Addie will do anything to keep it quiet.

From the New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden comes a story of twisting secrets and long-awaited revenge.]]> 379 Freida McFadden 1728296218 Shirley 4 2024-books, suspense 3.82 2024 The Teacher
author: Freida McFadden
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/16
date added: 2024/09/16
shelves: 2024-books, suspense
review:
Wow! I loved it! What a twisty turn-y plot! I flew through this book. Odd girl Addie struggles in her high school, bullied by others, has a reputation for being involved with a since dismissed teacher - has more trouble with her math teacher Mrs. Bennett but is befriended by her English teacher, Mr. Bennett. What ensues is a fast paced story involving the three of them. I did not see the surprise coming as this novel was reaching its conclusion, and then another surprising twist! Well written Freida!
]]> <![CDATA[Imperfect Strangers (Imperfect, #5)]]> 57201313 She’s looking for a forever kind of guy, he might not live to see tomorrow.

Bethany Connell has one goal: keep her cookies in her basket. And by cookies, she means sex. She will not be distracted by a pretty face and a rock-hard body again. This time, she wants a grown-up relationship. Something steady. Something forever.
And then she wakes up in bed with New York City’s sexiest playboy.

For Brent Crawford, only one thing matters: football. Except one more pass, and the game could kill him. Literally. With a lethal heart condition he’s been hiding from everyone, he’s got nothing to offer a woman, between the sheets or anywhere else.
And then he wakes up in bed with a spitfire blonde who needs his all.

So right for each other, Bethany and Brent are convinced now is the wrong time.

But they’re about to find out it’s never too late to heal a broken heart.
]]> 246 Mary Frame Shirley 3 2024-books, humour Imperfect Strangers has the football star meeting up with a bit of a screwy girl. She can’t imagine being with someone like him. He has a medical issue that he is hiding from everyone. It is light and funny and entertaining.]]> 3.95 2018 Imperfect Strangers (Imperfect, #5)
author: Mary Frame
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2024/09/12
date added: 2024/09/13
shelves: 2024-books, humour
review:
Lovely and humorous story by Mary Frame. I have read only two of her books and enjoyed both. Will be looking for more.
Imperfect Strangers has the football star meeting up with a bit of a screwy girl. She can’t imagine being with someone like him. He has a medical issue that he is hiding from everyone. It is light and funny and entertaining.
]]> What Have You Done? 201102399 The new binge-worthy novel from the “queen of the one-sit read,� and New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door

Nothing ever happens in sleepy little Fairhill, Vermont. But this morning that will change. And one innocent question could be deadly. What have you done?

The teenagers get their kicks telling ghost stories in the old graveyard. The parents trust their kids will arrive home safe from school. Everyone knows everyone. Curtains rarely twitch. Front doors are left unlocked.

But Diana Brewer isn’t lying safely in her bed where she belongs. Instead she lies in a hayfield, circled by vultures, discovered by a local farmer.

How quickly a girl becomes a ghost. How quickly a town of friendly, familiar faces becomes a town of suspects, a place of fear and paranoia.

Someone in Fairhill did this. Everyone wants answers.]]> 307 Shari Lapena 0593489969 Shirley 4 2024-books, thriller I like Lapena's writing style, simple, but yet draws you right in. Although the plot suggests several people as suspects, I did not see the ending coming. Exciting, a page turner and lots of truths about how people react to shocking news.]]> 3.72 2024 What Have You Done?
author: Shari Lapena
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/08
date added: 2024/09/08
shelves: 2024-books, thriller
review:
I have enjoyed Shari Lapena's books and this one didn’t disappoint. A classic thriller that kept me reading. A young high school student is found murdered in a farmer's field. That description alone had me captivated! The quiet town of Fairhill is suddenly awash with accusations, police and doubting minds.
I like Lapena's writing style, simple, but yet draws you right in. Although the plot suggests several people as suspects, I did not see the ending coming. Exciting, a page turner and lots of truths about how people react to shocking news.
]]> Meet Me at the Lake 61797464
At thirty-two, Fern's life doesn't look at all how she once imagined it would. Instead of living in the city, Fern's back home, running her mother's Muskoka lakeside resort—something she vowed never to do. The place is in disarray, her ex-boyfriend's the manager, and Fern doesn't know where to begin.

She needs a plan—a lifeline. To her surprise, it comes in the form of Will, who arrives nine years too late, with a suitcase in tow and an offer to help on his lips. Will may be the only person who understands what Fern's going through. But how could she possibly trust this expensive-suit wearing mirage who seems nothing like the young man she met all those years ago. Will is hiding something, and Fern's not sure she wants to know what it is.

But ten years ago, Will Baxter rescued Fern. Can she do the same for him?]]> 336 Carley Fortune 0735243786 Shirley 3 2024-books, fiction 3.66 2023 Meet Me at the Lake
author: Carley Fortune
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/09/03
date added: 2024/09/04
shelves: 2024-books, fiction
review:
I would rate this 3.5 stars, not quite a 4. An enjoyable summer read. Fern grew up at her mom's resort in Muskoka, but now lives in New York. She has no interest in going back home but circumstances mean she must. Fern meets Will in the city and they make plans to meet again the following year. A story about love and making plans, family and secrets.
]]> A Light Beyond the Trenches 59748631 A WW1 Novel of Betrayal and Resilience

From the USA Today bestselling author of Churchill’s Secret Messenger comes a WWI novel based on little-known history, as four very different lives intertwine across Europe from Germany to France—a German Red Cross nurse, a Jewish pianist blinded on the battlefield, a soldier tortured by deadly secrets of his own, and his tormented French mistress. This life-affirming tale of heroism and resilience will stay with you long after turning the final page.

By April 1916, the fervor that accompanied war’s outbreak has faded. In its place is a grim reality. Throughout Germany, essentials are rationed. Hope, too, is in short supply. Anna Zeller, whose fiancé, Bruno, is fighting on the western front, works as a nurse at an overcrowded hospital in Oldenburg, trying to comfort men broken in body and spirit. But during a visit from Dr. Stalling, the director of the Red Cross Ambulance Dogs Association, she witnesses a rare spark of optimism: as a German shepherd guides a battle-blinded soldier over a garden path, Dr. Stalling is inspired with an idea—to train dogs as companions for sightless veterans.

Anna convinces Dr. Stalling to let her work at his new guide dog training school. Some of the dogs that arrive are themselves veterans of war, including Nia, a German shepherd with trench-damaged paws. Anna brings the ailing Nia home and secretly tends and trains her, convinced she may yet be the perfect guide for the right soldier. In Max Benesch, a Jewish soldier blinded by chlorine gas at the front, Nia finds her person.

War has taken Max’s sight, his fiancée, and his hopes of being a composer. Yet despite all he’s given for his country, the tide of anti-Semitism at home is rising, and Max encounters it first-hand in one of the school’s trainers, who is determined to make Max fail. Still, through Anna’s prompting, he rediscovers his passion for music. But as Anna discovers more about the conflict’s escalating brutality—and Bruno’s role in it—she realizes how impossible it will be for any of them to escape the war unscathed . . .]]> 362 Alan Hlad 1496728440 Shirley 4 Hlad did his research well and made this time in history come alive, while weaving in a love story as well.]]> 4.22 2022 A Light Beyond the Trenches
author: Alan Hlad
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/21
date added: 2024/08/21
shelves: 2024-books, historical-fiction
review:
A well written historical fiction novel. Interesting to learn that this was how guide dogs for the blind began - training shepherds to guide veterans that were blinded by poisonous gas warfare. Difficult to read about how these gas weapons maimed and killed so many.
Hlad did his research well and made this time in history come alive, while weaving in a love story as well.
]]> The Manor House 62949018
Be careful what you wish for...

Childhood sweethearts Nicole and Tom are a normal, loving couple—until a massive lottery win changes their lives overnight.

Soon they’ve moved into a custom-built state-of-the-art Glass Barn on the stunning grounds of Lancaut Manor in Gloucestershire. They have fancy cars, expensive hobbies, and an exclusive lifestyle they never could have imagined.

But this dream world quickly turns into a nightmare when Tom is found dead in the swimming pool.

Nicole is devastated. Tom is her rock. And their beautiful barn —with all its smart features that never seem to work for her—is beginning to feel very lonely. But she’s not entirely by herself out there in the country. There’s a nice young couple who live in the Manor itself along with their middle-aged housekeeper who has the Coach House. And an old friend of Tom’s from school has turned up to help her get through her grief.

But big money can bring big problems and big threats. Was Tom’s death a tragic accident or was it something worse? And is her life in danger as well?

Nicole’s beginning to feel like a little fish in a big glass fishbowl.

Surrounded by piranhas.]]> 327 Gilly Macmillan 0063074389 Shirley 4 2024-books, thriller
Lottery winners Nicole and Tom build a glass masterpiece of a house on a beautiful peninsula. Nearest neighbours live in the Manor House with their maid, Kitty. All is not what it seems in the Manor House.

Then there is a tragedy at the glass home and the neighbours come to help. So more twists and turns occur. This novel really picked up speed in the last half. Had to keep reading to find out the outcome! Not what I had expected, and then there is one final twist right at the very end! Suspenseful!
I like that the author made sure to address all the issues that came up, from lipstick on a coffee mug, to a card found in Tom's pocket, and didn’t leave the reader wondering.]]> 3.65 2023 The Manor House
author: Gilly Macmillan
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/15
date added: 2024/08/15
shelves: 2024-books, thriller
review:
Another thriller by Gilly Macmillan. Interesting premise that people can be manipulated in such ways.

Lottery winners Nicole and Tom build a glass masterpiece of a house on a beautiful peninsula. Nearest neighbours live in the Manor House with their maid, Kitty. All is not what it seems in the Manor House.

Then there is a tragedy at the glass home and the neighbours come to help. So more twists and turns occur. This novel really picked up speed in the last half. Had to keep reading to find out the outcome! Not what I had expected, and then there is one final twist right at the very end! Suspenseful!
I like that the author made sure to address all the issues that came up, from lipstick on a coffee mug, to a card found in Tom's pocket, and didn’t leave the reader wondering.
]]> A Great Country 181109976 From the New York Times bestselling author, a novel in the tradition of Celeste Ng's Little Fires Everywhere, exploring the ties and fractures of a close-knit Indian-American family in the aftermath of a violent encounter with the police.

Pacific Hills, California: Gated communities, ocean views, well-tended lawns, serene pools, and now the new home of the Shah family. For the Shah parents, who came to America twenty years earlier with little more than an education and their new marriage, this move represents the culmination of years of hard work and dreaming. For their children, born and raised in America, success is not so simple.

For the most part, these differences among the five members of the Shah family are minor irritants, arguments between parents and children, older and younger siblings. But one Saturday night, the twelve-year-old son is arrested. The fallout from that event will shake each family member's perception of themselves as individuals, as community members, as Americans, and will lead each to consider: how do we define success? At what cost comes ambition? And what is our role and responsibility in the cultural mosaic of modern America?

For readers of The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett and Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, A Great Country explores themes of immigration, generational conflict, social class and privilege as it reconsiders the myth of the model minority and questions the price of the American dream.]]> 256 Shilpi Somaya Gowda 0063324342 Shirley 4 2024-books, fiction As like her other books, A Great Country is very well written. A family from India, living the American dream, moving on up and being successful in their great country - but then an incident happens that serves to disrupt their lives to a great extent. Was it racial profiling? Yes. Was it police brutality? Yes. Is this wrong? Yes.
Gowda has written this novel to show what is happening with minorities in America. But I think a lot of this happens in every country. This belief that people of colour just don’t measure up to the white people - in spite of working hard, being born in the country and being contributing citizens. It was interesting to read how the family was affected but in some ways, the book reminded me of a newspaper report of a recent incident. Not sure if I learned anything new.
My least favourite of Gowda's books.]]> 3.87 2024 A Great Country
author: Shilpi Somaya Gowda
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/07
date added: 2024/08/08
shelves: 2024-books, fiction
review:
I love this author and have read and enjoyed her other books. This one just didn’t have the same impact for me. I give it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
As like her other books, A Great Country is very well written. A family from India, living the American dream, moving on up and being successful in their great country - but then an incident happens that serves to disrupt their lives to a great extent. Was it racial profiling? Yes. Was it police brutality? Yes. Is this wrong? Yes.
Gowda has written this novel to show what is happening with minorities in America. But I think a lot of this happens in every country. This belief that people of colour just don’t measure up to the white people - in spite of working hard, being born in the country and being contributing citizens. It was interesting to read how the family was affected but in some ways, the book reminded me of a newspaper report of a recent incident. Not sure if I learned anything new.
My least favourite of Gowda's books.
]]> The Locked Door 57795665
While eleven-year-old Nora Davis was up in her bedroom doing homework, she had no idea her father was killing women in the basement.

Until the day the police arrived at their front door.

Decades later, Nora’s father is spending his life behind bars, and Nora is a successful surgeon with a quiet, solitary existence. Nobody knows her father was a notorious serial killer. And she intends to keep it that way.

Then Nora discovers one of her young female patients has been murdered. In the same unique and horrific manner that her father used to kill his victims.

Somebody knows who Nora is. Somebody wants her to take the fall for this unthinkable crime. But she’s not a killer like her father. The police can’t pin anything on her.

As long as they don’t look in her basement.]]> 313 Freida McFadden Shirley 3 2024-books, suspense 4.00 2021 The Locked Door
author: Freida McFadden
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2024/08/01
date added: 2024/08/02
shelves: 2024-books, suspense
review:
This was a pretty quick read. It was exciting and suspenseful. Nora's dad was a killer and is in jail. She has tried to keep her identity hidden so as not to be associated with him. But then women are being murdered again. Women that she knows! Lots of twists and turns. I wasn’t sure who was going to be the new killer. It was truly a surprise ending. I would read more books by this author.
]]> <![CDATA[One Last Breath (Tara Mills Mystery #2)]]> 51344128
A popular beach town was torn apart when a teenage girl went missing. Now, one year later, after a storm rips through the area, her body is found––strangled and buried deep under the brush of a local beach. But, as the cops uncover her body, another is found––a more recent victim––and they quickly realize it’s the work of a serial killer.


FBI Agent Tara Mills, still recovering from her last case, is pulled into her second. With no leads, the FBI needs Tara’s brilliant mind to crack it. But as she delves into the depths of the popular vacation beach town, she soon realizes that no one can be trusted––and that this killer may be far more brilliant than her.

Meanwhile, Tara has decided to uncover the truth of her own past. As she battles the darkness surrounding her childhood, more victims go missing, and with her career on the line, she races against time to stop the killer before she loses it all.
]]> 221 Sarah Sutton Shirley 4 2024-books, crime 4.24 2021 One Last Breath (Tara Mills Mystery #2)
author: Sarah Sutton
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/07/11
shelves: 2024-books, crime
review:
I enjoyed One Last Breath. A serial killer is killing young women and burying them on beaches. FBI agent Tara Mills and her partner are investigating and desperately trying to prevent another girl from being the next victim. It was suspenseful and well written. There was a secondary story happening in Tara's personal life that was not concluded and will be in the next book in the series. What I really enjoyed was that this book could be read on its own, not having to have read book one and the fact that the case was concluded in this novel. So many books leave the reader hanging, very unsatisfied. Sutton didn’t do this. She wrapped up the plot and left the reader with a taste to want to read book 3.
]]> <![CDATA[The One and Only Family (The One and Only #4)]]> 195853536 272 Katherine Applegate 0063221128 Shirley 0 to-read 4.38 2024 The One and Only Family (The One and Only #4)
author: Katherine Applegate
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/07/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Irish Rose (Sandy Cove #7)]]> 57124945
The picturesque beach of Wild Rose Bay is the last place Lydia Butler thought she’d be. But having just lost everything, the run-down cottage she inherited from her Great Aunt Nellie is the only place she can take her daughter, Sunny. Hidden away in a tiny Irish village, she can protect Sunny from the gossip in Dublin, and the real reason they have nowhere else to live�

The cottage is part of the old coastguard station and other eccentric residents are quick to introduce themselves when Lydia arrives. Lydia instantly feels less alone, fascinated by the stories they have about Nellie, and she’s charmed by American artist, Jason O’Callaghan, the mysterious man who lives next door.

But the longer Lydia relaxes under the moonlit sky, the more the secret she’s keeping from Sunny threatens to come out. And as she finds herself running into Jason’s arms, she knows she must be honest and face up to the past she has tried to forget. Has she finally found people who will truly accept her, or will the truth force her to leave the cottage for good?

Will transport you to Ireland to relax on the shore and stare at the perfect emerald waters. The Lost Girls of Ireland is perfect for readers of Debbie Macomber, Sheila O’Flanagan and Mary Alice Monroe.]]> 286 Susanne O'Leary Shirley 3 2024-books, fiction 4.09 2021 The Irish Rose (Sandy Cove #7)
author: Susanne O'Leary
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2024/07/04
date added: 2024/07/05
shelves: 2024-books, fiction
review:
A very light read. Lydia and her daughter move to an old seaside cottage in Ireland after Lydia's husband dies. She learns to embrace her new surroundings. That's about it. Not a lot of depth here, just a light read. The title really didn’t seem to fit.
]]> What Happened at the Lake 39676395
The Palmers went to the lake for a week of fun in the sun. But Alex Palmer had an agenda. He wanted his brother to reconcile with their hypercompetitive father. He wanted his daughter to break up with her shady boyfriend. Most of all, Alex wanted them to be a family one more time before he faced his predicament at home.

Evil incarnate and a brutal double murder shifted Alex’s focus from wants to needs. He needed to keep his family safe. He needed to find her. He needed to know what happened at the lake.

His pastor often said, “God won’t give you more than you can bear.�

This had nothing to do with God.

NOTE TO THE READER: This is a dark psychological thriller that delves into depraved acts of humanity. For adult readers only who can handle these subject matters. Adult language and explicit sexual violence.]]> 290 Phil M. Williams 1943894396 Shirley 3 2024-books, thriller But it did keep my interest and kept me curious about who the killer might be, so not a bad read all in all.]]> 4.01 2018 What Happened at the Lake
author: Phil M. Williams
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/23
date added: 2024/06/23
shelves: 2024-books, thriller
review:
Some very graphic parts in this novel. People being murdered, the hunt to find out who was behind them and a search for a missing girl. I thought hard about who the killer might be and thought I had it narrowed down, but in the end I was wrong. Suspenseful but I found the author continually re told what was happening - to the police, to family members, to Alex's personal investigation of the crimes. Too much already! I knew all those facts already!
But it did keep my interest and kept me curious about who the killer might be, so not a bad read all in all.
]]> <![CDATA[Pretend You Want Me (Wilde Ways, #13)]]> 59483761
There is no problem that Aspen Gray can’t handle. No case that is too hard. No challenge too great. She’s a rising star criminal defense attorney, and she intends to have the world at her feet…until a ghost from her past comes back to wreck her carefully designed plans. A ghost who should have been in the ground. And when a dead man comes stalking you, what’s a woman to do?

Let things get Wilde.

As soon as she sets foot in the elite protection and security firm known as Wilde, Aspen knows that she must tread carefully. Her life is on the line, and everything that she has worked so hard to achieve can be destroyed…unless one very talented and dangerous Wilde agent can help her out. She needs a man with exceedingly deadly skills—and she needs him now.

He can practically see the secrets dripping from her�

It should have been a standard undercover operation. Gideon Ranier knew the drill. He was supposed to play the role of his new client’s boyfriend so that he could slip into her world, keep her safe, and unmask the jerk screwing around with her. Standard work. No big deal. Former Delta Force, he could do that type of job in his sleep. Except…he doesn’t count on actually falling for his client. But he does. Hard, fast, and deep, and soon…there is nothing that he won’t do for her.

It’s personal.

Lines are crossed. Desire grows too strong. Their need won’t be denied. But the attacks on Aspen are mounting. As an obsessed killer plays a deadly game, Gideon will have no choice but to fight harder and dirtier than he’s ever fought in his life in order to protect Aspen from a stalker hellbent on vengeance.

Author’s Note: He’s dangerous. She’s devious. They shouldn’t want each other so badly, but they do. Close proximity, a deadly threat…adrenaline is pumping and the desire between Aspen and Gideon will not be controlled. He’ll walk through hell to keep her safe…and, yes, he’s pretty much gonna have to do just that. Sexy times, dangerous deeds, and a happy ending are guaranteed in this stand-alone read. Be on the lookout for secrets, because there sure are plenty of those coming your way!]]> 274 Cynthia Eden 195282446X Shirley 3 2024-books, suspense 4.24 2021 Pretend You Want Me (Wilde Ways, #13)
author: Cynthia Eden
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/14
date added: 2024/06/15
shelves: 2024-books, suspense
review:
A quick read. Liked the story with attorney Aspen hiring a security company to protect her and winding up with hunk Gideon. Trying to figure out who is after her made for an interesting read but the romance between Aspen and Gideon seemed to take over the story. Pages and pages of dialogue between the two as to 'is this real or is this pretend'? Not a great piece of literature but an enjoyable quick summer read.
]]> <![CDATA[The Inheritance Games (The Inheritance Games, #1)]]> 52439531
To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man's touch -- and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes. Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a conwoman, and he's determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather's last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.]]> 386 Jennifer Lynn Barnes 1368052401 Shirley 3 2024-books, mystery 4.13 2020 The Inheritance Games (The Inheritance Games, #1)
author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/05
date added: 2024/06/06
shelves: 2024-books, mystery
review:
I enjoyed this young adult novel mainly because of the descriptions of this amazing house full of secret passages and puzzles. A young woman inherits a fortune from a stranger. She must live in the mansion for a year with the four boys who thought the inheritance would be theirs. Not a great piece of literature but an entertaining read nonetheless. I'm sure the rest of the series will be good reads as well.
]]> The Whispers 63222079
The Loverlys sit by the hospital bed of their young son who is in a coma after falling from his bedroom window in the middle of the night; his mother, Whitney, will not speak to anyone. Back home, their friends and neighbors are left in shock, each confronting their own role in the events that led up to what happened that terrible night: the warm, altruistic Parks who are the Loverlys' best friends; the young, ambitious Goldsmiths who are struggling to start a family of their own; and the quiet, elderly Portuguese couple who care for their adult son with a developmental disability, and who pass the long days on the front porch, watching their neighbors go about their busy lives.

The story spins out over the course of one week, in the alternating voices of the women in each family as they are forced to face the secrets within the walls of their own homes, and the uncomfortable truths that connect them all to one another. Set against the heartwrenching drama of what will happen to Xavier, who hangs between death and life, or a life changed forever, THE WHISPERS is a novel about what happens when we put our needs ahead of our children's. Exploring the quiet sacrifices of motherhood, the intuitions that we silence, the complexities of our closest friendships, and the danger of envy, this is a novel about the reverberations of life's most difficult decisions.]]> 336 Ashley Audrain 1984881698 Shirley 4 2024-books, fiction 3.78 2023 The Whispers
author: Ashley Audrain
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/24
date added: 2024/05/24
shelves: 2024-books, fiction
review:
I enjoyed The Whispers. So many concepts explored - friendships, marriage, motherhood. Whitney, mother of three, but really isn’t happy being a mother, Blair, the mother who can do it all, Rebecca, who so badly wants to have a child and Mara, the elderly neighbour who watches and sees what is happening in her neighbours' lives. The men aren’t explored as well, but all seem to have their faults and issues. I couldn’t wait to see how it would all end - happily ever after? Or with the destruction of multiple families? An enjoyable read and some real issues with friends and marriage explored.
]]> My Sister’s Keeper 10917 New York Times best-selling author Jodi Picoult is widely acclaimed for her keen insights into the hearts and minds of real people. Now she tells the emotionally riveting story of a family torn apart by conflicting needs and a passionate love that triumphs over human weakness.

Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age 13 she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate—a life and a role that she has never challenged ... until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister—and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.

My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life, even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are if that quest makes you like yourself less? Should you follow your own heart or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity.]]> 423 Jodi Picoult 0743454537 Shirley 4 fiction, realistic-fiction 4.10 2004 My Sister’s Keeper
author: Jodi Picoult
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2004
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/05/19
shelves: fiction, realistic-fiction
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The American Wife (The Diplomat's Wife #1)]]> 81073204
Vienna, 1937. When beautiful American Kitty becomes engaged to Austrian diplomat Edgar, she finds herself thrown into a very different world in Europe, and soon longs for home. But when the woman designing her wedding dress, Judith, takes Kitty under her wing, she sees the city of Vienna in a new light � a city of culture and music that she can explore with her new friend.

But when the Nazis come, the fact that Judith is Jewish means she is no longer safe. Kitty knows that as a diplomat’s wife she can steal the papers that will allow her closest friend to escape to safety, but will it mean betraying the love of her life?

Except that Edgar has grown distant and secretive since she joined him in Europe and, when war breaks out, Kitty wonders which side her husband is really on. And, as she prepares to betray him, Kitty begins to fear that she doesn’t really know the man she married at all.

Facing an impossible choice between her dearest friend and the man she loves, Kitty knows she must be brave, and do the right thing, no matter the personal cost�

An absolutely heartbreaking, powerful and gripping story about finding love, resilience and friendship in the midst of the darkness of World War 2. Perfect for fans ofThe Nightingale, My Name is Eva and All the Light We Cannot See.

Praise for The American Wife:

“Fantastic� Wonderful� Superb� I did not want to put this story down. When my e-reader battery wore down I stood by the charger and read.� ŷ reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐�

“Outstanding� I was hooked by this book and couldn’t put it down� Incredible� Brilliant�
Oh my goodness� I loved this book.� ŷ reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐�

“A truly unputdownable book! The story kept getting better and better� You will have a hard time putting this book down.� @kayy_lambert ⭐⭐⭐⭐�

“INCREDIBLE!!!� Not to be missed. I cannot wait for the next in this series.� ŷ reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐�

“This book is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat right up till the end.� ŷ reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐�

“I loved loved loved this story!... I look forward to reading the next installment� Beautifully written!� ŷ reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐�

“Achingly beautiful� Fascinating� Stunning� It engrossed me to the point of ignoring my surroundings!� ŷ reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐�

“Wow! What a story!... I was on the edge of my seat!� @thattravelinglibrarian ⭐⭐⭐⭐�

“Thrilling� Kept me riveted to my sofa.� ŷ reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐�

“Absolutely heartbreaking, powerful and gripping.� ŷ reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐�

“Fantastic� I read this book in two days� It was a treat from start to finish.� @justineg_author ⭐⭐⭐⭐�

“Incredible� Fascinating� Wonderful� I laughed a little and cried a lot.� Rachel Wesson ⭐⭐⭐⭐�

“I cannot wait for the next book to be published� Highly recommend to every reader!� ŷ reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐�

“Will keep readers in suspense until the very end!� ŷ reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐�

“Easily one of my favorite reads this year.� ŷ reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐]> 340 Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger 1803147350 Shirley 3 I think what bothered me most was how Kitty reacted to finding out Pim's identity. Not what I would have expected of her character.]]> 4.22 2023 The American Wife (The Diplomat's Wife #1)
author: Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/11
date added: 2024/05/12
shelves: 2024-books, historical-fiction
review:
This book was an ok read. I found it dragged a bit. I kept waiting for more to happen. Edgar and Kitty were so in love. It was hard to see their relationship failing because of what was happening in Austria at the time. It seemed to me that the wife of a diplomat would have to be very careful in how she acted and where she went. Yet she travelled with her 'gang' to some rather questionable locations.
I think what bothered me most was how Kitty reacted to finding out Pim's identity. Not what I would have expected of her character.
]]> Her Last Promise 45316336 A beautiful, page-turning and heartwrenching story of how hope can blossom in the ruins of tragedy and of the redeeming power of love. From No. 1 bestselling author of The Letter Kathryn Hughes.* Winner Book of the Year in Prima magazine Big Book Awards * 'Storytelling at its finest with characters that come alive and a plot that dances with intrigue. An absolutely first-class read that does not disappoint' Prima'A gripping read' Woman & Home_______Tara Richards was just a girl when she lost her mother. Years later when Tara receives a letter from a London solicitor its contents shake her to the core. Someone has left her a key to a safe deposit box. In the box lies an object that will change everything Tara thought she knew and lead her on a journey to deepest Spain in search of the answers that have haunted her for forty years.Violet Skye regrets her decision to travel abroad leaving her young daughter behind. As the sun dips below the mountains, she reminds herself she is doing this for their future. Tonight, 4th June 1978, will be the start of a new life for them. This night will indeed change Violet's destiny, in the most unexpected of ways...Just some of the five-star reviews from real readers for Her Last Promise...'Hope rises from despair and new beginnings are forged in the most extraordinary and unexpected way. Kathryn Hughes delves deeply into the heart and soul of her characters, making them totally relatable...like friends you really care for. My addiction to this novel was total and uncompromising ' 'Wonderful! First book I have read by Kathryn Hughes and will now read her previous stories. I loved it ' 'Another great story from Kathryn Hughes ''As always, a lovely story by Kathryn Hughes ''I really enjoyed this book, especially the nostalgic 1970's descriptions ''* THE MEMORY BOX, THE NEW NOVEL FROM KATHRYN HUGHES, IS AVAILABLE NOW *]]> 395 Kathryn Hughes 1472265947 Shirley 4 2024-books, fiction I enjoyed yet another of Katherine Hughes' books. The plot line kept moving, alternating between the present and the past. Held my interest for sure. A story about love on many levels as well as family relationships.]]> 4.25 2019 Her Last Promise
author: Kathryn Hughes
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/29
date added: 2024/04/30
shelves: 2024-books, fiction
review:
Tara and her mom struggled in life, finally moving into a room above a hardware store, where the elderly owner becomes like a father/grandfather to the ladies. Tara watches her mom leave on holiday with a questionable man, only to not have her return. Raised by her Nan, Tara always struggled with the reasons her mom had not returned. Many years later she got some clues about her mom.
I enjoyed yet another of Katherine Hughes' books. The plot line kept moving, alternating between the present and the past. Held my interest for sure. A story about love on many levels as well as family relationships.
]]> Oyster Shore 59698487 A forsaken friendship�

During the golden years before the First World War, two boys run wild through the grounds of a Cornish manor house - until the arrival of the girl destined to change their lives forever. As the storm clouds of war gather over Europe, a chain of events is set in motion which will reach across the decades to haunt the neglected place once known as Oyster Shore.

A lifetime of regrets�

In the winter of 1964 one of the richest men in England lies dying. Alone and consumed by guilt, Gerald Snowe leaves behind the dark secrets which have driven him to despair and his last wish is that restitution might be made. But who will remain on Oyster Shore long enough to hear the past whispering?

A lost story�

Over fifty years later, broken-hearted writer Lowenna Scott seeks solace in a remote riverside hideaway. Swirling mists and ghostly tales soon draw her into a decades� old mystery and the company of the enigmatic Noah Wilson. When a long-concealed betrayal unexpectedly comes to light, Lowenna and Noah must look to the past to uncover the truth behind a love affair that changed history, haunts Oyster Shore and possesses the power to alter their own future forever�



Taking the reader on a captivating journey through time, place and war, Oyster Shore is an unforgettable story of love, loss, and most of all hope.]]> 580 Ruth Saberton 1914508009 Shirley 4 4.77 Oyster Shore
author: Ruth Saberton
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.77
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/19
date added: 2024/04/21
shelves: 2024-books, historical-fiction
review:
Oyster Shore is a long book, filled with descriptive writing. A biographer comes to Oyster Shore to reflect and write. She meets Noah, also there to heal after his wife and his mother’s deaths. They discover the secrets of Oyster Shore, a story that happened around world War 1. Many things are unfolded as the story goes back to those days then forward to this couple with their investigations. The plot was interesting. I loved all the twists and turns and surprises and felt I got to know Madalyn and Ned as well as the loathsome Gerald. I did find it a tad too long, with pages of description.
]]> <![CDATA[The Midwife of Auschwitz (Women of War #1)]]> 60753718
Inspired by an incredible true story, this poignant novel tells of one woman’s fight for love, life and hope during a time of unimaginable darkness.

Ana Kaminski is pushed through the iron gates of Auschwitz beside her frightened young friend Ester Pasternak. As they reach the front of the line, Ana steps forward and quietly declares herself a midwife � and Ester her assistant. Their arms are tattooed and they’re ordered to the maternity hut. Holding an innocent new-born baby, Ana knows the fate of so many are in her hands, and vows to do everything she can to save them.

When two guards in their chilling SS uniforms march in and snatch a blond-haired baby from its mother it’s almost too much for Ana to bear. Consoling the distraught woman, Ana realises amidst the terrible heartache there is a glimmer of hope. The guards are taking the healthiest babies and placing them with German families, so they will survive. And there are whispers the war is nearly over� Ana and Ester begin to secretly tattoo little ones with their mother’s numbers, praying one day they might be reunited.

Then, early one morning, Ana notices the small bump under Ester’s thin striped clothing…]]> 348 Anna Stuart 1803142685 Shirley 4 I have read several books along this line so there are naturally going to be repeats of information, but I kept thinking I had read this before? Maybe Picoult's The Storyteller? So many similarities when reading about the Jewish ghetto and the families crowded into a small dwelling. It was still a compelling but sad read. The midwives tattooing babies in the hope of reuniting them with their mothers in the future was new information though that I hadn’t read about before. A very good novel.]]> 4.52 2022 The Midwife of Auschwitz (Women of War #1)
author: Anna Stuart
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.52
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/28
date added: 2024/03/29
shelves: 2024-books, historical-fiction
review:
Anna Stuart has written a gripping account of life in the concentration camps at Auschwitz and how so many lives were affected. Although this is a work of fiction, it incorporated many things that did actually occur during the Nazi reign of terror. To think that humans could treat each other so horribly is mind boggling - and yet these things really did happen.
I have read several books along this line so there are naturally going to be repeats of information, but I kept thinking I had read this before? Maybe Picoult's The Storyteller? So many similarities when reading about the Jewish ghetto and the families crowded into a small dwelling. It was still a compelling but sad read. The midwives tattooing babies in the hope of reuniting them with their mothers in the future was new information though that I hadn’t read about before. A very good novel.
]]> <![CDATA[Silent Girl (Sheila Stone, #1)]]> 200595029
With her Olympic dreams in tatters, Sheila, 28, struggles to find her place back home. She is surrounded by reminders of what could have been, stuck inside the shadow of her older the golden child, the respected sheriff. But when her sister persuades her to join the local police force, Sheila’s life and career start anew. As she hunts serial killers, Sheila notices clues that others miss and offers a perspective that no one else has. She realizes she has a talent outside of fighting, and that she has a chance to embrace a new life in Salt Lake—a life outside the ring. This is a different kind of ring, though. Sheila quickly realizes that to survive, she will need more than just her strength—she’ll need a brilliance to match that of even the most diabolical killer. Can Sheila win this match? Or will she finally lose it all?
A page-turning and harrowing suspense thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured protagonist, the SHEILA STONE series is a riveting mystery, packed with suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night.]]> 168 Blake Pierce Shirley 3 2024-books, mystery Still an enjoyable quick read though. Like so many of these series, it was left hanging. Have to buy book 2 to find out where the sisters go in their relationship.]]> 3.94 2023 Silent Girl (Sheila Stone, #1)
author: Blake Pierce
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/03/17
date added: 2024/03/18
shelves: 2024-books, mystery
review:
Not a bad storyline. Suspenseful trying to find a killer who has taken yet another female. The story about the two sisters seemed to go forever. One whose career in kickboxing has ended and one who is a police officer. The fact that the police officer enlisted civilian help from her sister in a serious case seemed a bit of a stretch. A lot of the story was about the relationship between the two sisters. Wore a bit thin after a while.
Still an enjoyable quick read though. Like so many of these series, it was left hanging. Have to buy book 2 to find out where the sisters go in their relationship.
]]> <![CDATA[The Haunted Counter (Candle Maker #1)]]> 199896507 193 W.L. Knightly Shirley 3 2024-books, mystery 3.61 The Haunted Counter (Candle Maker #1)
author: W.L. Knightly
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.61
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/03/10
date added: 2024/03/11
shelves: 2024-books, mystery
review:
Well, this looked to be a good mystery - women being killed who all looked similar, a town on edge waiting for the next abduction/killing to occur and Kinsey, a woman determined to start a new life in a small town. But, as luck would have it, her rental home has a bad past and she is experiencing noises and 'ghosts' in her home. Just as I became invested in the storyline, it ended! So disappointing! Yes, this is the first in a series, but generally things wind up with some closure but with a hint of more to come. Not this one - no closure, just a huge cliff hanger. I would have been tempted to buy the next book, but I know now it will end the same way. Have to buy six books before you reach a conclusion. No thanks.
]]> Birds in Flight 122750405
In 1998, the American Jorgenson family had been on a year-long road trip in Australia. One humid, storming night, the mother - Elsa Jorgenson - vanished in an isolated stretch of Australian everglades. Elsa was never seen again.

That night, twelve-year-old Lily Jorgenson was left alone and terrified in the family camper—even her teenage sister Iris is missing. When Iris comes racing back through the rain, she refuses to tell where she’s been. Lily is certain her sister is hiding a dark secret.

24 years later, Lily is a travel writer living a settled life with her son in Pennsylvania, USA. Lily and Iris are estranged, with Iris’s secret having torn them apart. When floods dredge up their mother’s backpack from the everglades, tantalising clues are uncovered, and the police reopen the cold case.

Lily returns to Australia, determined to force Iris to finally tell her secret - and to do that, she'll have to reunite with her. But when Lily unlocks the gut-wrenching events of the past, everything she thought was true about her family is about to shatter.]]> 390 Anni Taylor Shirley 4 2024-books, mystery I loved it! So many clues and twists and turns to get to the truth. I thought the author was quite skilful in embedding further details along the way. I had no idea how it would turn out. A mystery but also a story about family relationships, sisters, mothers & daughters.
My second book by this author. Will be sure to look for more.]]> 4.16 2023 Birds in Flight
author: Anni Taylor
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/07
date added: 2024/03/07
shelves: 2024-books, mystery
review:
Two sisters who have been estranged for many years come together in Australia to reopen the case of their missing mother. The women embark on a road trip recreating a trip they took with their mom years before, all the while searching for clues about why and how their mother disappeared.
I loved it! So many clues and twists and turns to get to the truth. I thought the author was quite skilful in embedding further details along the way. I had no idea how it would turn out. A mystery but also a story about family relationships, sisters, mothers & daughters.
My second book by this author. Will be sure to look for more.
]]> The Key 37662949 From the #1 bestselling author of The Letter Kathryn Hughes comes The Key, an unforgettable story of a heartbreaking secret that will stay with you for ever.

'Riveting' Lesley Pearse on The Letter. 'Gripping' Good Housekeeping on The Secret.

1956
It's Ellen Crosby's first day at work as a student nurse at Ambergate County Lunatic Asylum. When she meets a young girl committed by her father, and a pioneering physician keen to try out the various 'cures' available for mental illness, little does Ellen know that a choice she will make is to change all their lives for ever...

2006
Sarah is drawn to the abandoned Ambergate Asylum and whilst exploring the old corridors she discovers a suitcase in an attic belonging to a female patient who was admitted to the asylum fifty years earlier. The shocking contents of the suitcase lead Sarah to unravel a forgotten story of tragedy, lost love and an old wrong that only Sarah may have the power to put right.

Join the hundreds of thousands of readers worldwide who have lost their hearts to Kathryn Hughes' novels:

'I cried buckets of tears reading it'

'You cannot fail to fall for this story'

'I went through every emotion under the sun'

'One of the finest stories I have ever read'

'I have finished this book with tears in my eyes but a smile on my face'

'I feel like I'm a better person for reading it'

]]> 432 Kathryn Hughes 1472248864 Shirley 4 2024-books, fiction 4.30 2018 The Key
author: Kathryn Hughes
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/26
date added: 2024/02/27
shelves: 2024-books, fiction
review:
Having now read a few books by this author, I have decided I really do like her work. Nothing earth shattering but still entertaining reads. The Key goes back to the fifties when many people ended up in insane asylums, many not deserving of being there. Treatment was harsh, some patients never left the asylum for the rest of their lives. Young nurse Ellen comes along and tries to treat the patients with kindness and dignity, thinking she can make a difference. A young patient, Amy, is committed by her father, but clearly not insane. Up to present day when a young historian decides to investigate one of these old asylums. The connections that unfold were unexpected. I enjoyed this story very much.
]]> The Secret 31345936 From Kathryn Hughes, the author of the No. 1 Kindle bestseller The Letter, comes The Secret - a heartbreaking novel of tragedy, hope and second chances. Readers who treasure the novels of Lesley Pearse and Susan Lewis will adore this author.

Mary has been nursing a secret. Forty years ago, she made a choice that would change her world for ever, and alter the path of someone she holds dear.

Beth is searching for answers. She has never known the truth about her parentage, but finding out could be the lifeline her sick child so desperately needs. When Beth finds a faded newspaper cutting amongst her mother's things, she realises the key to her son's future lies in her own past. She must go back to where it all began to unlock...The Secret.

]]> 358 Kathryn Hughes Shirley 3 2024-books, fiction A quick read, not a lot of character development, but all in all it was enjoyable.]]> 4.21 2016 The Secret
author: Kathryn Hughes
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2024/02/19
date added: 2024/02/20
shelves: 2024-books, fiction
review:
This is the third book I have read by this author and although I enjoyed it, I think the other two were better. Again Hughes writes with a present day story and the past interchangeably. A couple with an ill child are dealing with the grandmother's passing when a letter is discovered. The story goes back in time revealing a series of events that are tied to this couple. Secrets that were kept from them that might have changed the way their lives played out.
A quick read, not a lot of character development, but all in all it was enjoyable.
]]> The Letter 25423829 * THE MEMORY BOX, THE BRAND NEW NOVEL FROM KATHRYN HUGHES, IS AVAILABLE NOW *Every so often a love story comes along to remind us that sometimes, in our darkest hour, hope shines a candle to light our way. Discover THE LETTER by Kathryn Hughes, the Number One bestseller that has captured thousands of hearts worldwide. Perfect for fans of The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. 'A wonderful, uplifting story' Lesley PearseJoin the hundreds of thousands of readers worldwide who have fallen in love with THE 'An amazing, heartwrenching, unforgettable story''This beautiful story will bring tears and joy' 'Loved this story !! It kept me totally gripped although I was sobbing in places as well''A tale of love and hope with lots of twists and turns. A great story!'Tina Craig longs to escape her violent husband. She works all the hours God sends to save up enough money to leave him, also volunteering in a charity shop to avoid her unhappy home. Whilst going through the pockets of a second-hand suit, she comes across an old letter, the envelope firmly sealed and unfranked. Tina opens the letter and reads it - a decision that will alter the course of her life for ever...Billy Stirling knows he has been a fool, but hopes he can put things right. On 4th September 1939 he sits down to write the letter he hopes will change his future. It does - in more ways than he can ever imagine...THE LETTER tells the story of two women, born decades apart, whose paths are destined to cross and how one woman's devastation leads to the other's salvation.]]> 340 Kathryn Hughes Shirley 3 4.24 2013 The Letter
author: Kathryn Hughes
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2024/02/15
date added: 2024/02/15
shelves: 2024-books, historical-romance
review:
The Letter was an enjoyable quick read. Finding a letter in the suit jacket of a suit in a charity shop led the finder on an adventure to see if she could find the woman for whom the letter was intended. The story goes back in time to war time and then forward to current day. So many stories going on from Tina (the letter finder) to Chrissee, (the one the letter was for) - both with a lot of sadness in their lives. It was nice to see how Hughes wove their stories together.
]]> Homecoming 61683285
Sixty years later, Jess is a journalist in search of a story. Having lived and worked in London for almost twenty years, she now finds herself laid off from her full-time job and struggling to make ends meet. A phone call out of nowhere summons her back to Sydney, where her beloved grandmother, Nora, who raised Jess when her mother could not, has suffered a fall and been raced to the hospital.

Nora has always been a vibrant and strong presence: decisive, encouraging, young despite her years. When Jess visits her in the hospital, she is alarmed to find her grandmother frail and confused. It’s even more alarming to hear from Nora's housekeeper that Nora had been distracted in the weeks before her accident and had fallen on the steps to the attic—the one place Jess was forbidden from playing in when she was small.

At loose ends in Nora's house, Jess does some digging of her own. In Nora's bedroom, she discovers a true crime book, chronicling the police investigation into a long-buried tragedy: the Turner Family Tragedy of Christmas Eve, 1959. It is only when Jess skims through the book that she finds a shocking connection between her own family and this once-infamous crime—a crime that has never been resolved satisfactorily. And for a journalist without a story, a cold case might be the best distraction she can find�

An epic novel that spans generations, Homecoming asks what we would do for those we love, and how we protect the lies we tell. It explores the power of motherhood, the corrosive effects of tightly held secrets, and the healing nature of truth. Above all, it is a beguiling and immensely satisfying novel from one of the finest writers working today.]]> 547 Kate Morton 0063020890 Shirley 4 2024-books, mystery 4.00 2023 Homecoming
author: Kate Morton
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/11
date added: 2024/02/11
shelves: 2024-books, mystery
review:
Kate Morton is one of my favourite authors. I enjoyed this latest book of hers. It is very long and there is so much description but still an interesting story. I didn’t get completely hooked until much later in the book. Current day story of Jess and long ago story of her grandmother when she was a young woman. Both stories moved along without any confusion. Jess looks into the tragedy that happened so many years earlier. Lots of tidbits, twists and turns. It became hard to put down! I thought I had a pretty good idea about the missing baby but the ending was still quite a surprise. A story about family, motherhood and secrets. A very enjoyable book!
]]> Looking for Jane 61273371
1971: As a teenager, Dr. Evelyn Taylor was sent to a home for “fallen� women where she was forced to give up her baby for adoption—a trauma she has never recovered from. Despite the constant threat of arrest, she joins the Jane Network as an abortion provider, determined to give other women the choice she never had.

1980: After discovering a shocking secret about her family, twenty-year-old Nancy Mitchell begins to question everything she has ever known. When she unexpectedly becomes pregnant, she feels like she has no one to turn to for help. Grappling with her decision, she locates “Jane� and finds a place of her own alongside Dr. Taylor within the network’s ranks, but she can never escape the lies that haunt her.]]> 400 Heather Marshall 1668013681 Shirley 4 2024-books, realistic-fiction 4.34 2022 Looking for Jane
author: Heather Marshall
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/01/16
date added: 2024/01/17
shelves: 2024-books, realistic-fiction
review:
Quite enjoyed reading this piece of fiction wrapped in a period of Canada's real history. The underground network to obtain safe abortions was a real thing. I learned a lot. The author wove the stories of some young unwed mothers into this telling to begin with and then to end with. Very interesting, sad and heartbreaking. The middle of the novel felt a bit textbook like with all the information about protests and Morgentaler, but definitely informative.
]]> <![CDATA[The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle]]> 40914164
There are eight days, and eight witnesses for you to inhabit.

We will only let you escape once you tell us the name of the killer.

Understood? Then let's begin . . .

Evelyn Hardcastle will die. Every day until Aiden Bishop can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others . . .

The most inventive debut of the year twists together a mystery of such unexpected creativity it will leave listeners guessing until the very last second.]]> 458 Stuart Turton 149267012X Shirley 3 2022-books, fiction
Very weird book! Hard to follow the timeline with so many characters. This is one twisted author.,]]> 3.75 2018 The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
author: Stuart Turton
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2022/05/07
date added: 2024/01/15
shelves: 2022-books, fiction
review:
I'm assuming this is the same book as The Seven 1/2 Deaths of EH. I could find only one review of The Seven Deaths of EH. Just a new title?

Very weird book! Hard to follow the timeline with so many characters. This is one twisted author.,
]]> <![CDATA[Dead On Time (Unconventional Truth #1)]]> 56381753
Together with his assistant Anna, an empath who is barely scratching the surface of her own talents, Whit travels to Aldridge, a small town in Texas, at the request of an old acquaintance in the FBI. Two girls have gone missing from opposite sides of town, and no one is cooperating. With so many obstacles, can Whit use his keen senses to find the girls in time?]]> 186 W.L. Knightly Shirley 3 2024-books, mystery 4.11 Dead On Time (Unconventional Truth #1)
author: W.L. Knightly
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.11
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/01/04
date added: 2024/01/05
shelves: 2024-books, mystery
review:
Interesting premise with a professor and his assistant helping investigate crimes. They supposedly have heightened senses and can detect clues others might miss. Not a bad read. It kept my interest throughout. Might be enough to make me want to read more books by these authors.
]]> <![CDATA[Ring Around the Rosie (Olivia Thompson Mystery, #1)]]> 57940576
Fifteen years later, Olivia still hasn’t moved on from her sister’s murder. Not only does she still see the ghost of her dead sister, she is pursuing a career studying the very monsters that destroyed Rosie and hundreds of other helpless victims. Olivia is desperate to find closure, but a new murder with connections to her past has reopened old wounds.

Nate Tucker is a successful Chicago detective. He also happens to be Olivia’s best friend. Nate has been fascinated by the Thompson case since the first time Olivia mentioned her dead sister to him. When a dead girl shows up in the city under circumstances eerily similar to Rosie’s murder, he is quick to make the connection.

Now, with stale evidence and fifteen-year-old memories to guide him, Nate has the chance to solve the current murder case, as well as the death of the Homecoming Queen that refuses to stop haunting the people she left behind.

Dark and haunting, Ring Around the Rosie is utterly suspenseful and surprising to the end.
]]> 173 Jullian Scott 1386946494 Shirley 4 2024-books, thriller
Olivia is still grieving her sister's murder from many years earlier. Her good friend Nate is now investigating a similar, but current murder. This book held my interest throughout. Some suspense, some psychological things going on, some fear and a new romance all rolled up in this one.]]> 3.67 2016 Ring Around the Rosie (Olivia Thompson Mystery, #1)
author: Jullian Scott
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2023/12/26
date added: 2023/12/27
shelves: 2024-books, thriller
review:
A good read. Makes me want to continue the series.

Olivia is still grieving her sister's murder from many years earlier. Her good friend Nate is now investigating a similar, but current murder. This book held my interest throughout. Some suspense, some psychological things going on, some fear and a new romance all rolled up in this one.
]]> <![CDATA[Autumn in Sycamore Park (The Warm Days of Autumn, #1)]]> 61156314
Having fled a relationship and a previous life she would rather forget, young teacher Jennifer Stevens throws herself into a demanding new job at Brentwell Primary. Charged with marshalling a group of unruly eight-year-olds to the autumn harvest festival, her only solace is the peace of nearby Sycamore Park.

As the evenings draw in and the leaves begin to fall, will new friends, delicious autumn treats, and a possible new man on the orange-tinted horizon help Jennifer finally come to terms with her past and begin to look forward into the future?

Autumn at Sycamore Park is another delightful romantic comedy from CP Ward, author of several popular seasonally themed novels. Set against a backdrop of warm autumn days, it offers everything fans of CP Ward’s other books have come to love: laughter, friendship, good times, and a hint of newly discovered love.]]> 234 C.P. Ward Shirley 3 2023-books, fiction 3.49 Autumn in Sycamore Park (The Warm Days of Autumn, #1)
author: C.P. Ward
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.49
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2023/12/17
date added: 2023/12/18
shelves: 2023-books, fiction
review:
A young teacher starting over in a small town. In a short time she is learning to love the little town, her school and the friends she is making. A new romance is building. It was a light entertaining read.
]]> Am I... 194332120 A Murderer.
Or Both?

Kieran Harrison's life is outwardly perfect. When he meets the charismatic and beautiful Serena, he believes he's met his perfect mate, unawares of the narcissism embedded in their relationship. One toxic encounter after another, slowly hooks him, bound by the sexual energy it creates.

Kieran is charged with her murder and his life is put on hold. Ordered into therapy by the court, defended by a barrister he doesn't respect, and abandoned by everyone except his father, the dark edges of his personality threaten to eat him alive.

In confronting the lies that surrounded his relationship three questions haunt him as his court date looms. Is he a narcissist, a murderer, or both? The answer threatens to tear him apart as he realises nobody's who they seem in this tale of deceit around a woman he believed he loved.

Am I... Is a modern-day thriller that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat until the last page.]]> 447 S.J. Sherwood 199979298X Shirley 2 2023-books, crime
Other than those glaring errors, the storyline had promise. But not enough to make this book a worthwhile read.]]> 3.94 Am I...
author: S.J. Sherwood
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.94
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2023/12/06
date added: 2023/12/07
shelves: 2023-books, crime
review:
Definitely needed better proofreading! So many mistakes that it really took away something for me. And using the word 'sat' so often and in such an odd way.

Other than those glaring errors, the storyline had promise. But not enough to make this book a worthwhile read.
]]> <![CDATA[A Cry in the Dark (Carly Moore #1)]]> 46225434 A woman on the run with no one to trust.

With the ink barely dry on her new identity, Cary Moore just wants to disappear…but fate has other plans.

Broken down car, next to nothing in her bank account, Carly is stuck in a Smoky Mountain town that time has forgotten. Drum is riddled with secrets and outsiders are eyed with distrust. Still, it isn’t until she witnesses a cold-blooded murder in a darkened parking lot, that she realizes she’s escaped one nightmare, only to land in another.

As the clock ticks down and more bodies pile up, Carly doesn’t know who to trust. If she doesn’t stop the killers, they just might stop her…pԱԳٱ.ձ> 376 Denise Grover Swank 1940562287 Shirley 3 2023-books, mystery 4.28 2019 A Cry in the Dark (Carly Moore #1)
author: Denise Grover Swank
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2023/11/19
date added: 2023/11/20
shelves: 2023-books, mystery
review:
A woman on the run from a bad situation ends up having car trouble in a small town. She witnesses a murder and now her life is in danger too. This book held my interest. A few things seemed off like her taking a job when she is only planning to be there a day or two, why her car couldn’t be fixed ASAP, how her dwindling money seemed to allow her to keep buying for Hank and a few more things. This didn’t take away from the story though. The characters weren’t developed enough in my opinion. Max and Wyatt could almost be interchangeable. So not a four star book in my opinion.
]]> <![CDATA[Pride, Prejudice & Wicked Pleasure]]> 36379246 Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett. A match made in bondage.

When Lizzy Bennett arrives at Hunsford Parsonage, she’s unacquainted with the less civilized side of pleasure. But Lizzy isn’t someone who’s easily intimidated. At the encouragement of her new friend, she ventures into a decadent realm where proper etiquette succumbs to primal passions. Little does she know that the masked mentor responsible for her sexual awakening is the arrogant Mr. Darcy, the very scoundrel she blames for her sister’s unhappiness�

Mr. Darcy is relieved to train a new sexual partner. Despite her distaste toward him, he's unable to take his mind off the clever, captivating Ms. Bennett. He can’t help but think of her likeness in his new protege. When he finds out his student and his obsession are one in the same, Darcy is torn between fulfilling his own fantasies and risking everything for a distant chance at something more�

Pride, Prejudice & Wicked Pleasure is a steamy historical romance that dares to imagine the kinkier side of literature’s most famous couple. If you like sultry chemistry, Regency trappings, and new takes on classic characters, then you’ll love Em Brown’s erotic reimagining.

Buy Pride, Prejudice & Wicked Pleasure to shock the sensibilities of your inner Janeite today!
]]> 431 Em Brown 1942822340 Shirley 2
This was like a milder version of Fifty Shades. I was disappointed. Felt like I was reading something smutty, intended to titillate. It wasn’t a good read for me, even though I would have liked to know the conclusion!]]> 3.88 Pride, Prejudice & Wicked Pleasure
author: Em Brown
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.88
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2023/07/20
date added: 2023/11/19
shelves: 2023-books, historical-romance
review:
I got this book as a free selection. I do enjoy historical fiction and historical romance and with the title including Pride and Prejudice, I hoped it would be of merit. Naturally I am unable to read the conclusion without purchasing the sequel. I had hoped for a bit more of a conclusion but it was not to be.

This was like a milder version of Fifty Shades. I was disappointed. Felt like I was reading something smutty, intended to titillate. It wasn’t a good read for me, even though I would have liked to know the conclusion!
]]> <![CDATA[The Orphanage (Shilling Grange Children’s Home #1)]]> 58316204
Clara Newtonis the new Housemother of Shilling Grange Orphanage. Many of the children have been bombed out of their homes and left without families, their lives torn apart by the war, just like Clara’s. Devastated by the loss of her fiancé, a brave American pilot, she is just looking for a place to start again.

But the orphans are in desperate need of her help.Funds are short, children cry out in the night,and tearfulRitatells Clara terrible stories about the nuns who previously ran Shilling Grange. Clara cannot bear to see them suffer, but what does she know about how to look after eight little ones?

Clara can’t get anything right, and then she accidentally ruins Rita’s only memento of her mother. Overwhelmed, she wonders if they’d be better off without her. But she’s not completely alone. Living next door is Ivor: ex-Shilling Grange resident, war hero, and handyman with deep brown eyes. He doesn’t trust Clara and she is fiercely independent, but he has a way with the children. And with his support and the help of other locals, Clara begins to find her way.

As she heals from her grief and adjusts to her new life, Clara wonders if she has finally found her home and family among the orphans.Can she find the strength to fight for them when nobody else will?And dare she open her heart to love again?

An absolutely heartbreaking, unforgettable and unputdownable read. Fans ofBefore We Were Yours, Diney CosteloeandThe Orphan Sisterswon’t be able to put this book down.]]> 365 Lizzie Page 1800192053 Shirley 3 4.39 The Orphanage (Shilling Grange Children’s Home #1)
author: Lizzie Page
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.39
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2023/11/07
date added: 2023/11/08
shelves: 2023-books, historical-fiction
review:
When Clara applied to be a housemother at an orphanage, she knew she was in over her head. As time went on, her outlook began to change. Just like Clara, I felt I got to know the children and their personalities. I enjoyed the story but felt the writing was 'off' in a few places. Seemed to need more proof reading.
]]> <![CDATA[You’ll Be Sorry (A Megan York Suspense Thriller—Book One)]]> 123318780 Police officer and single mom Megan York is doing her best to raise her daughter in her small Midwestern town, hoping her past won’t come back to haunt her and that her violent ex won’t be released from prison. But when women turn up murdered on local sailboats, victims of a serial killer, Megan must enter the mind of a killer and tackle the toughest case of her career—while her ex comes up for parole. Can Megan stop a killer—and save her family?

“The plot has many twists and turns, but it is the ending, which I did not see coming at all, that totally defines this book as one of the most riveting that I have read in years.�
—Reader review for Not Like Us

You’ll Be Sorry is Book #1 in a long-anticipated new series by #1 bestseller Ava Strong, whose bestseller NOT LIKE US (a free download) has received over 1,000 five star ratings and reviews.

A page-turning crime thriller full of jaw-dropping twists and packed with heart-pounding suspense, the Megan York mystery series introduces a brilliant new female protagonist and will keep you on the edge of your seat. Fans of Rachel Caine, Teresa Driscoll, and Robert Dugoni are sure to fall in love.

More books in the series are also available!

“This is a chilling, suspenseful page turner that just might leave you scared at night!�
—Reader review for Not Like Us

“Very intriguing, kept me turning page after page� Lots of twists and turns and a very unexpected ending. Cannot wait for the next in this series!�
—Reader review for Not Like Us

“A roller coaster ride of events� Can’t put down until you finish it!�
—Reader review for Not Like Us

“Excellent read with very realistic characters that you become emotionally invested in� Couldn't put it down!�
—Reader review for The Death Code

“An excellent read, lots of twists and turns, with a surprising ending, leaving you wanting to read the next book in the series! Well done!�
—Reader review for The Death Code

“Well worth the read. Cannot wait to see what happens in the next book!�
—Reader review for The Death Code

“Quickly became a story I couldn’t put down! I highly recommend this book!�
—Reader review for His Other Wife

“I really enjoyed the fast-paced action, plot design and characterization... I didn't want to put the book down and the ending was a total surprise.�
—Reader review for His Other Wife

“The characters are extremely well developed� There are twists and turns in the plot that kept me guessing. An extremely well written story.�
—Reader review for His Other Wife

“One of the best books I have ever read� The ending was perfect and surprising. Ava Strong is an amazing writer.�
—Reader review for His Other Wife

“Holy cow, what a rollercoaster� Many times I absolutely KNEW who the killer was—only to be proven wrong each time. I was completely surprised by the ending. I have to say, I am thrilled that this is the first in a series. My only complaint is that the next one isn't out yet. I need it!�
—Reader review for His Other Wife

“An incredible, intense, spellbinding, enjoyable story. It will keep you captivated until the end.�
—Reader review for His Other Wife]]> 210 Ava Strong Shirley 3 2023-books, suspense 3.88 You’ll Be Sorry (A Megan York Suspense Thriller—Book One)
author: Ava Strong
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.88
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2023/10/26
date added: 2023/10/27
shelves: 2023-books, suspense
review:
A detective is racing to find a killer and save another woman's life. She is totally caught up in the case and is annoyed when her sister arrives to take over. There was a lot of suspense waiting to see if Megan and her team could save the next victim. An interesting quick read.
]]> A Mother's War 123669677 Narvik, 1940.After Laila awakens to the sight of warships in the fjord, it isn't long before she turns resistor to the brutal Nazi regime. She is horrified when local girls begin affairs with enemy soldiers, yet against her own principles, she finds herself falling in love with German soldier, Josef.

Josef is not like the others. He becomes involved in helping her and the locals with resistance activities, risking his life on more than one occasion.

But then Laila finds out she is pregnant. With Josef sent to the Russian front, and Laila cast out by her family, she turns to a home for women which promises to care for her and her unborn child. But instead, she finds herself caught in a system of evil far beyond what she thought possible�

-

'This debut shines a light on a little known, but no less vital, corner of the war - events we should all know about. Fascinating.' Mandy Robotham, author of The War Pianist

'The layers of deception Laila encounters at the Lebensborn home were masterfully done and had me glued to the pages. A powerful debut, and a must-read for fans of historical fiction.' USA Today bestseller, Andie Newton

'Atmospheric and gripping.' Jacquie Bloese, author of The French House.

'...both a poignant love story, and a fascinating exploration of the experience of being an occupied nation during a time of war... An accomplished and gripping debut!' Louise Fein, author of People Like Us

'A heartbreaking tale of love, loss and overwhelming courage. I was captivated, and couldn't turn the pages fast enough." Siobhan Daiko, author of The Girl from Venice

'The compelling story of Laila - a woman of great hope and courage - who showed how love, loyalty and compassion can endure despite the evils of war.' Catherine Law, author of The Officer's Wife

‘The story tore my heart out but I love the strength and determination in the most vulnerable characters � A gripping and exciting read.� ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ netgalley review

‘This book is powerful, thought provoking and is written in such a beautiful way � we just NEED a sequel as simple as that.� ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ netgalley review

‘A beautiful story of heroism, bravery, womanhood, motherhood, and love amidst the chaos of war. It’s such an addicting and beautifully written story. I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this book!� ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ netgalley review

‘A superbly written book � It is truly a sublime read that creates a picture of beauty, sadness, loss and the ability to overcome. I LOVED IT!� ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ netgalley review

‘A marvellous historical debut that enthralled me � a fabulous debut� ⭐️⭐️⭐️&]]> 354 Helen Parusel 1837515263 Shirley 4 4.56 A Mother's War
author: Helen Parusel
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.56
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2023/10/16
date added: 2023/10/17
shelves: 2023-books, historical-fiction
review:
I enjoy historical fiction and A Mother's War did not disappoint. Young Laila living with her family in Norway is suddenly thrust into war life when the Germans take over Norway. Terrible things occur prompting Laila to help with resistance efforts. The story follows as Laila's life takes many turns. I was completely engaged in this novel. Helen Parusel has done an amazing job with writing this book. I felt I was with Laila in the forest, running and seeing friends die, so vivid and real! I hope to read more from this author.
]]> The Lost Bookshop 65137920 The Keeper of Stories meets The Lost Apothecary in this evocative and charming novel full of mystery and secrets.

‘The thing about books,� she said ‘is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of.�

On a quiet street in Dublin, a lost bookshop is waiting to be found�

For too long, Opaline, Martha and Henry have been the side characters in their own lives.

But when a vanishing bookshop casts its spell, these three unsuspecting strangers will discover that their own stories are every bit as extraordinary as the ones found in the pages of their beloved books. And by unlocking the secrets of the shelves, they find themselves transported to a world of wonder� where nothing is as it seems.]]> 432 Evie Woods 0008609209 Shirley 3 2023-books, fiction 4.03 2023 The Lost Bookshop
author: Evie Woods
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2023/10/06
date added: 2023/10/07
shelves: 2023-books, fiction
review:
A book that spans two time periods and stories of two women with their share of problems but all centered around a love of books. The current characters are trying to locate a mysterious, seemingly lost bookshop. Their are some magical, fantasy elements in this story, but it is a pleasant, lovely read.
]]> The Memory Box 56964140 A heartbreakingly beautiful novel, The Memory Box unlocks an unforgettable epic story of love and war, from the million-copy-selling author of The Letter, Kathryn Hughes.

Some love stories can't be forgotten...

Jenny Tanner opens the box she has cherished for decades. Contained within are her most precious mementoes, amongst them a pebble, a carving and a newspaper cutting she can hardly bear to read. But Jenny knows the time is finally here. After the war, in a mountainside village in Italy, she left behind a piece of her heart. However painful, she must return to Cinque Alberi. And lay the past to rest.

After a troubled upbringing, Candice Barnes dreams of a future with the love of her life - but is he the man she believes him to be? When Candice is given the opportunity to travel to Italy with Jenny, she is unaware the trip will open her eyes to the truth she's been too afraid to face. Could a place of goodbyes help her make a brave new beginning?]]> 430 Kathryn Hughes 1472265963 Shirley 4 4.48 2021 The Memory Box
author: Kathryn Hughes
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2023/09/23
date added: 2023/09/24
shelves: 2023-books, historical-fiction
review:
I quite enjoyed The Memory Box. Telling 100 year old Jenny's story by way of telling it to her caregiver Candice, made for an interesting read. Just as I was getting caught up in what was happening during the war to Jenny and her brother Louis, the reader was suddenly back to present day with Jenny in a care home. This back and forth style really held my interest. The story is about love and heartbreak, sad times and happy times. The characters were well developed and I felt I knew each of them from sweet and smart Jenny, to gentle Lorcan, miserable Beau and sensitive Candice. I learned some things too about Italy's part in the war and enjoyed how Hughes wove these true facts into this fictional tale.
]]> Slim to None (Cedar Tree #1) 41733242
Investigator Gus Flemming is hot on the trail of a bail skip with organized crime connections that bring him to Cedar Tree. Once there, the focus of his investigation lands squarely on the gently rounded shoulders of a vivacious red haired Emma, whose physical limitations have done nothing to dampen her zest for life.

When it becomes clear that Emma is at risk, Gus does't hesitate to step in and protect her. Call it a job with some very hot benefits......

**Due to content of a sexually explicit nature, this book is recommended for a mature audience only.**]]> 268 Freya Barker Shirley 3 2023-books, fiction 4.00 2014 Slim to None (Cedar Tree #1)
author: Freya Barker
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2014
rating: 3
read at: 2023/09/16
date added: 2023/09/16
shelves: 2023-books, fiction
review:
Well this book did hold my interest, particularly because the love story involved older characters. A lot going on trying to figure out who was after Emma and why. The whirlwind attraction and romance between Emma and Gus was a bit hard to believe but still fun to read. Not sure if we really needed to read all the details about what these two were doing sexually though!
]]> <![CDATA[Always, With You (Endless Harbor #1)]]> 122779700 In a new romantic comedy series by #1 Bestseller Fiona Grace, Ariel Hawthorne’s perfect life is upended when she finds her boyfriend cheating and loses her job on the same day. With her teenage daughter also at a crossroads, Ariel decides it’s time to ditch Miami life and move to a small town in coastal Maine and start life again. Determined to restore her missing father’s historic house into a B&B, she has no idea what’s in store—or that a better life, and a new love, might be awaiting her.]]> 145 Fiona Grace Shirley 2 2023-books, fiction I felt very unsatisfied with this novel. Lots of description in the latter part of the book which made me wonder if this was leading to the end - and I was right.]]> 3.53 Always, With You (Endless Harbor #1)
author: Fiona Grace
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.53
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2023/09/08
date added: 2023/09/09
shelves: 2023-books, fiction
review:
Well, this started off as a light summer read only to end with none of the problems resolved. Have to buy the next book to find out anything. How disappointing. Reading books in a series is always entertaining, but generally the plot is resolved, with just a few dangling pieces to spark your interest in reading the next one.
I felt very unsatisfied with this novel. Lots of description in the latter part of the book which made me wonder if this was leading to the end - and I was right.
]]> Everyone Here Is Lying 63139946 Welcome to Stanhope - a safe neighbourhood. A place for families.

William Wooler is a family man, on the surface. But he's been having an affair, an affair that ended horribly this afternoon at a motel up the road. So when he returns to his house, devastated and angry, to find his difficult nine-year-old daughter Avery unexpectedly home from school, William loses his temper.

Hours later, Avery's family declare her missing.

Suddenly Stanhope doesn't feel so safe. And William isn't the only one on his street who's hiding a lie. As witnesses come forward with information that may or may not be true, Avery's neighbours become increasingly unhinged.

Who took Avery Wooler?

Nothing will prepare you for the truth. ]]> 336 Shari Lapena 0593489934 Shirley 4 2023-books, thriller 3.75 2023 Everyone Here Is Lying
author: Shari Lapena
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/09/01
date added: 2023/09/02
shelves: 2023-books, thriller
review:
Well! This was a worthwhile read for me! A thriller with so many new secrets popping up in every chapter - kept me guessing as to who could be behind Avery's disappearance. Avery is a troubled child with many issues, not a very likable little girl. The author let the reader get to know so many of the characters in depth. I did wonder a bit about this young girl's ability to manipulate things and to lie as she did - seemed like those traits would have been more suited to a slightly older child. But nevertheless, an exciting novel! I will look for more books by Shari Lapena!
]]> <![CDATA[Another Time and Place (Echoes of War, #1)]]> 75618654 An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here

A brief encounter changes two lives forever in an enthralling novel of love, loss and longing.

England 1944. In the shadow of the war raging in Europe, Tom and Anna meet by chance. He is an American pilot on a 72-hour pass and she is a secretary, trapped in a life going nowhere. Surprised by each other, they begin a passionate affair.

Their happiness does not last. Shot down over Europe, wounded and in hiding, Tom has no way of telling Anna he is alive. And Anna, left waiting in England, has no way of finding out. How can she know that Tom is struggling to return to her? Or that the thought of her is all that keeps him going on the long journey home? In a world where promises are hard to keep, all she can do is hope. Until she discovers her mother is keeping secrets, and then it is a race against time.]]> 258 Samantha Grosser Shirley 3 4.20 2006 Another Time and Place (Echoes of War, #1)
author: Samantha Grosser
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at: 2023/08/22
date added: 2023/08/23
shelves: 2023-books, historical-fiction
review:
A war and romance story where Anna meets Tom and they instantly fall in love. The rest of the story is about their separation, not knowing if the other is still alive or unmarried. I enjoyed it but I found it dragged after a while. Took a very long time to see if they would get back together. I enjoyed the characters though but Anna's hateful mother was almost unbelievable. A good war time story.
]]> <![CDATA[One for Sorrow (Isabel Fielding, #1)]]> 38560268 A chilling psychological thriller by the million-copy bestselling author of Silent Child.

Who really killed Maisie Earnshaw?

Within the walls of the high-security psychiatric facility, Crowmont Hospital, reside many violent offenders. To nurse Leah Smith, no matter what, all offenders are patients first and foremost. When Leah is appointed as nurse to Isabel Fielding, she is determined to remain professional despite the shocking crime Isabel allegedly committed in her past.

Years ago, six-year-old Maisie Earnshaw was found face down in a duck pond, her body mutilated. Isabel--at age fourteen, found covered in Maisie's blood--was convicted of murder.

As Leah spends time with Isabel, she comes to know her as a young woman with a sweet, gentle nature, someone she could never see as a murderer. Leah begins to suspect members of the Fielding family of framing Isabel as a young girl, and she's not the only one. True crime blogger James Gorden thinks Isabel is innocent too.

Is Leah allowing her own dark past to taint her judgement as she grows closer to her patient? Or has a young woman been unjustly robbed of her childhood?]]> 311 Sarah A. Denzil Shirley 3 2023-books, thriller 4.06 2018 One for Sorrow (Isabel Fielding, #1)
author: Sarah A. Denzil
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2023/08/08
date added: 2023/08/09
shelves: 2023-books, thriller
review:
Very suspenseful. I would rate this book at 3.5. Frightening, suspenseful and more. Psychiatric nurse Leah becomes friendly with one of her patients, feeling that she is innocent of the crime she was charged with and decides to try to help her. Big mistake!
]]> <![CDATA[Philomena: A Mother, Her Son, and a Fifty-Year Search]]> 17707622
Philomena's son, renamed Michael Hess, grew up to be a top Washington lawyer and a leading Republican official in the Reagan and Bush administrations. But he was a gay man in a homophobic party where he had to conceal not only his sexuality but, eventually, the fact that he had AIDS. With little time left, he returned to Ireland and the convent where he was his desperate quest to find his mother before he died left a legacy that was to unfold with unexpected consequences for all involved.

The Lost Child of Philomena Lee is the tale of a mother and a son whose lives were scarred by the forces of hypocrisy on both sides of the Atlantic and of the secrets they were forced to keep. A compelling narrative of human love and loss, Martin Sixsmith's moving account is heartbreaking yet ultimately redemptive.]]> 420 Martin Sixsmith 0143124722 Shirley 3 biographical 3.46 2009 Philomena: A Mother, Her Son, and a Fifty-Year Search
author: Martin Sixsmith
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.46
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2023/08/02
shelves: biographical
review:
I enjoyed the story of Philomena's days in the convent and empathized with her in losing her child to adoption. I was caught up in following Anthony's life in America and his adjustment to being away from his mother. Then the novel went sideways with so much description of the political scene in the USA. It almost felt like filler material to make the book longer and I got rather bored with it. I wanted to know more about the search for his birth mother. Even though Anthony/Michael constantly complained about his lack of knowledge about his birth mom and his need to find out what happened in his early years, it didn't seem like he followed through very much to find out. I was glad to reach the end to find out whether he and his mom ever found each other. Enjoyed the old black and white photos - I thought this really helped to make the story real for me. Not sure about the title - only the first few chapters were about her. The story was really focused on Michael.
]]> <![CDATA[Death is in the Details (Paynes Creek, #1)]]> 53440251 268 Heather Sunseri 1943165300 Shirley 3 2023-books, crime
Find it a bit hard to believe that someone entered her trailer - more than once- and she slept through it all!

But it was enjoyable and I may read more from this author.]]> 4.00 2019 Death is in the Details (Paynes Creek, #1)
author: Heather Sunseri
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2023/07/28
date added: 2023/07/29
shelves: 2023-books, crime
review:
It was an ok read. Kept my interest throughout. I wasn’t happy with the sudden ending and it appears that book two doesn’t pick up where this one left off. I want to know what happened to Faith and Luke!

Find it a bit hard to believe that someone entered her trailer - more than once- and she slept through it all!

But it was enjoyable and I may read more from this author.
]]> <![CDATA[The One and Only Ruby (The One and Only #3)]]> 62310711 The One and Only Bob. Now living in a wildlife sanctuary, Ruby’s caretaker from the elephant orphanage in Africa where she grew up is visiting. Seeing him again brings back a flood of memories - both happy and sad - of her life before the circus, and she recounts the time she spent in the African savannah to Ivan and Bob.]]> 210 Katherine Applegate 0063080087 Shirley 0 to-read 4.24 2023 The One and Only Ruby (The One and Only #3)
author: Katherine Applegate
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/07/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Orphan's Island (Amherst Island #1)]]> 56039482
But then her kind Aunt Rose invites Ellen to stay with her large family, in their rambling house on beautiful Amherst Island, which nestles like a jewel in the blue waters of Lake Ontario.

There Ellen finally begins to find the love and acceptance she has long been craving � both from Aunt Rose’s boisterous family, and from the boys next door, Jed and Lucas Lyman. It’s Jed she’s drawn to� the one with the twinkling eyes, who teases her, and laughs with her, and soon steals her heart�

But does Jed love her back? Because—even though Amherst Island feels like home—Ellen knows she can’t stay there with a broken heart�

This is the first book in the unmissable Amherst Island Trilogy that follows the life and love of Ellen Copley from the magic of Lake Ontario to the bloody battlefields of the First World War and beyond. Perfect for fans of The Oceans Between Us, The Orphan Sisters, and My Name is Eva.

Previously published as Down Jasper Lane.]]> 395 Katharine Swartz Shirley 3 I enjoy historical fiction and this book drew me in quickly. I thought the latter part of the book dragged somewhat while Ellen decides what to do with her life and with her feelings for Jed Lyman. But it kept me interested enough to want to read the next one in this series.]]> 4.42 2009 The Orphan's Island (Amherst Island #1)
author: Katharine Swartz
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at: 2023/07/12
date added: 2023/07/12
shelves: 2023-books, historical-fiction
review:
I would give this book a 3.5 star rating. Young Ellen Copley has a difficult life in Scotland caring for her sick mother. After her passing, Ellen and her dad come to North America. Life doesn’t turn out to be as glorious as Ellen had dreamed.
I enjoy historical fiction and this book drew me in quickly. I thought the latter part of the book dragged somewhat while Ellen decides what to do with her life and with her feelings for Jed Lyman. But it kept me interested enough to want to read the next one in this series.
]]> <![CDATA[The Summer Sand Pact (Five Island Cove, #2)]]> 53519258
Alice Kelton's marriage is in shambles, and while she's always thought she'd stay with her husband, after her last visit to the cove, she went back to the Hamptons and filed for divorce. She and her twins are moving to Rocky Ridge in Five Island Cove permanently, but she's not telling anyone.

Robin's husband is in Alaska for the summer, and she's pretending she's okay.

Eloise comes back to the cove every couple of weeks so she can see her new boyfriend, though she's growing tired of the distance between them.

AJ broke up with her non-committal boyfriend, and she's happier, freer, and open to another relationship, even though she lives in Atlanta.

Kelli brings her son to the cove this time, knowing her relationship with her husband is on the rocks and desperate to fix it. She plans to get some help from her sisterhood during the two weeks in the cove.

When she's followed to the beach house where the other women and their children have gathered, Kelli learns a dangerous secret thirty years in the making that could completely undo all the progress she's made...

Get ready for more secrets to come to light in Five Island Cove, and for these five women to show each other what it means to love and support someone through thick and thin.]]> 424 Jessie Newton Shirley 3 2023-books, fiction 4.20 The Summer Sand Pact (Five Island Cove, #2)
author: Jessie Newton
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.20
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2023/07/02
date added: 2023/07/03
shelves: 2023-books, fiction
review:
Not a great book. Needed to read the first in the series to make sense of who/what were the SeaFaring Girls and the many terms like First Right of Refusal, Tell All etc. I found it hard to keep track of who was who, who was divorcing, who had a boyfriend, who had a surprise brother etc. Good premise that these friends would meet in the summer to renew their friendships and support one another. Somehow there were so many stories going on, I just found it confusing. Also, the strongest female, Alice, becomes so needy and teary - just didn’t seem to jibe well with this strong character. Not for me. Was glad when it was over.
]]> <![CDATA[The Wedding Charm (The Wedding Whisperer, #1)]]> 60722901
Unfortunately, someone else has offered to come to the bride’s rescue—best man Ben Atkins, the same man who destroyed Sarah’s high school science project all those years ago. Now he wants to one-up her by retrieving the charm first? Sarah refuses to let that happen. The race is on.

When Sarah and Ben arrive in Atlanta, instead of finding the wedding charm there’s a letter from the bride’s grandmother directing the bride and groom to complete a series of tasks in order to prove their commitment to each other. With the wedding only two days away, Sarah and Ben must join forces by pretending to be the bride and groom in order to earn the wedding charm. Should be a cinch. After all, how hard can it be to fake true love for forty-eight hours?]]> 162 Susan Hatler 0998694606 Shirley 3 3.88 2017 The Wedding Charm (The Wedding Whisperer, #1)
author: Susan Hatler
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2017
rating: 3
read at: 2023/06/13
date added: 2023/06/15
shelves:
review:
A quick and simple read. Bridesmaid and best man travel across the country to bring back a wedding charm for the bride. A little far fetched that the bride was ready to abandon her wedding if she didn’t get the charm! Really? And the back and forth between the two main characters was a stretch too. But having said that it was light and fun. An entertaining summer read.
]]> <![CDATA[Lethal Dissection (Dr. Zora Smyth Medical Thriller #1)]]> 74953111 A murder suspect for the dead body on her dissection table, spunky surgeon-to-be Zora Smyth races to find the truth. Then more bodies drop�

Zora Smyth is not your average poster child for a first-year medical student with a distant mother, a missing sister, and a deep distrust of the police. All she'd ever dreamed of was to make it through medical school and become a surgeon.

But a dissection gone wrong at the Gross Anatomy lab lands Zora in the middle of a murder investigation and in the crosshairs of a vicious enemy.

When a potential witness points her out as the prime suspect for the murder, Zora faces the frightening risk of losing her dream and her freedom.

Then more bodies drop�

As Zora races to investigate the truth and save herself, will she give in to a killer hell-bent on getting what he wants, or will she fight for her life as she faces her worst nightmare?

LETHAL DISSECTION is the first book in Dobi Cross' gripping suspense-filled series of medical thrillers. If you like page-turning non-gory medical thrillers filled with unexpected rollercoaster twists and intrigue, you’ll love LETHAL DISSECTION.]]> 238 Dobi Cross Shirley 3 2023-books, thriller 3.46 2018 Lethal Dissection (Dr. Zora Smyth Medical Thriller #1)
author: Dobi Cross
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.46
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2023/06/07
date added: 2023/06/08
shelves: 2023-books, thriller
review:
A thriller - medical student cuts into a cadaver, not expecting blood to flow. What follows is a thriller suspense novel. Interesting premise. I would read other books by this author.
]]> <![CDATA[Amelia's Story: A Childhood Lost (Amelia #1)]]> 17833427 This is a powerful true story of one young girls struggle to survive the state care system in the 70's and 80's. Amelia has just one wish, to make it to adulthood, to hold her destiny in her own hands. This is a harrowing true story, one of survival and human strength. Amelia has been separated from all her siblings never to see them again for many years, she is moved from one children's home to another, until finally it's just too much for her to bear. Amelia starts to wonder about the peace and finality of her own death.]]> 148 D.G. Torrens Shirley 3 3.65 2011 Amelia's Story: A Childhood Lost (Amelia #1)
author: D.G. Torrens
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2022/08/03
date added: 2023/06/05
shelves: 2022-books, 2023-books, realistic-fiction
review:
This is a memoir of one young woman's terrible experiences growing up in the state care system. A lost childhood for sure and very sad. But the writing was weak. I enjoyed the story but it needed some polishing to make it a more enjoyable read.
]]> What We Did Last Night 59513684
This is the question facing Laura when a group of close friends, all neighbours living on the same street, decide one night to put their keys in a bowl and swap partners.

No one is obliged to do anything but the rules state that what does happen remains under wraps.

Not everyone is keen on the idea, though Laura’s husband certainly is, but group pressure mixed with alcohol means they run with it.

This will set off a chain of jaw-dropping events that will change all their lives forever.

If you are looking for a suspenseful domestic thriller that will keep you guessing, you’ve found it!]]> 236 Vanessa Garbin Shirley 4 2023-books, thriller 3.77 2021 What We Did Last Night
author: Vanessa Garbin
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2023/05/25
date added: 2023/05/26
shelves: 2023-books, thriller
review:
Interesting premise - a group of neighborhood friends decide to hold a 'key party' where they swap partners for sex or whatever the couple decides to do. Not everyone is onboard though and this creates a lot of tension. The circumstances of that night affect everyone differently, including the young people, who were not even there. It was interesting to read about the fallout from this disastrous evening. Not the best book out there but enough of a storyline to hold my interest. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
]]> Little Fires Everywhere 51704136 Everything I Never Told You, a riveting novel that traces the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and the enigmatic mother and daughter who upend their lives.

In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is planned--from the layout of the winding roads, to the colors of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules.

Enter Mia Warren--an enigmatic artist and single mother--who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenaged daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past and a disregard for the status quo that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community.

When old family friends of the Richardsons attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town--and puts Mia and Elena on opposing sides. Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Elena is determined to uncover the secrets in Mia's past. But her obsession will come at unexpected and devastating costs.

Little Fires Everywhere explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, and the ferocious pull of motherhood--and the danger of believing that following the rules can avert disaster.

Named a Best Book of the Year by: People, The Washington Post, Bustle, Esquire, Southern Living, The Daily Beast, GQ, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Audible, ŷ, Library Reads, Book of the Month, Paste, Kirkus Reviews, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and many more...

Perfect for book clubs! Visit celesteng.com for discussion guides and more. ]]> 368 Celeste Ng 0143135163 Shirley 4 2020-books, realistic-fiction 4.06 2017 Little Fires Everywhere
author: Celeste Ng
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2020/05/14
date added: 2023/05/17
shelves: 2020-books, realistic-fiction
review:
Thoroughly enjoyable read! The orderly community of Shaker Heights is not so orderly behind closed doors. Lots of little fires going on everywhere. Great character development. I really felt that I knew Mia and Pearl with their simple basic lifestyle and the Richardsons with their affluent life. One family has so much, the other exists on very little because this is the way they choose to live. Seeing the changes in Izzy through Mia's nurturing was refreshing. Reading about the various artistic techniques used by Mia, the interplay between the teens in the story and several storylines going on, made this a four star novel for me. Highly recommend it!
]]> The Oceans Between Us 43882243
For readers of Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly, The Letter by Kathryn Hughes, and Remember Me by Lesley Pearse.

A woman is found wandering injured in London after an air raid.
She remembers nothing of who she is. Only that she has lost something very precious.

As the little boy waits in the orphanage, he hopes his mother will return.
But then he finds himself on board a ship bound for Australia, the promise of a golden life ahead, and wonders: how will she find him in a land across the oceans?

In Perth, a lonely wife takes in the orphaned child. But then she discovers the secret of his past. Should she keep quiet? Or tell the truth and risk losing the boy who has become her life?]]> 432 Gill Thompson 1472257944 Shirley 4 2023-books, realistic-fiction Britain shipped off many children to Australia, supposedly to give them a better life after being orphaned in the war. But all wasn’t as it seemed as some children did indeed have parents in Britain, but had been separated during bombing, etc. The story of a mother searching for her lost son for her entire life was heart wrenching. The story of what these children endured even more so. Interesting to read the author's notes about the apology given to these children and parents many years later.]]> 4.33 2019 The Oceans Between Us
author: Gill Thompson
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2023/05/14
date added: 2023/05/15
shelves: 2023-books, realistic-fiction
review:
I enjoy fictional books based on real happenings in history. This novel was enjoyable. 3.5 stars rounded up to4.
Britain shipped off many children to Australia, supposedly to give them a better life after being orphaned in the war. But all wasn’t as it seemed as some children did indeed have parents in Britain, but had been separated during bombing, etc. The story of a mother searching for her lost son for her entire life was heart wrenching. The story of what these children endured even more so. Interesting to read the author's notes about the apology given to these children and parents many years later.
]]> <![CDATA[The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane]]> 25150798
Slowly, Li-yan, one of the few educated girls on her mountain, begins to reject the customs that shaped her early life. When she has a baby out of wedlock she rejects the tradition that would compel her to give the child over to be killed, and instead leaves her, wrapped in a blanket with a tea cake tucked in its folds, near an orphanage in a nearby city.

As Li-yan comes into herself, leaving her village for an education, a business, and city life, her daughter, Haley, is raised in California by loving adoptive parents. Despite her privileged childhood, Haley wonders about her origins. Across the ocean Li-yan longs for her lost daughter. Over the course of years, each searches for meaning in the study of Pu’er, the tea that has shaped their family’s destiny for centuries.]]> 384 Lisa See Shirley 4 4.29 2017 The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane
author: Lisa See
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2023/04/29
date added: 2023/04/30
shelves: 2023-books, historical-fiction
review:
3.5 stars rounded up. I really enjoyed the first half of this book. So interesting to learn about the Akha culture and their beliefs and traditions. Following young Li-yan, as she grows and learns about life and all the values so important to her culture was so very interesting. There is so much information about tea, kinds of tea, making tea, farming tea, etc. At first it was woven into the story but the latter half of the book seemed to read like a text on tea production. After the hard time Li-yan experienced in her young life, it was nice to see her finding success with a rich husband who made her happy. Just found the end of the book too dry, too full of tea facts, although I did learn a lot too.
]]> Ripper 18090150 Isabel Allende-the New York Times bestselling author whose books, including Maya's Notebook, Island Beneath the Sea, and Zorro, have sold more than 57 million copies around the world-demonstrates her remarkable literary versatility with this atmospheric, fast-paced mystery involving a brilliant teenage sleuth who must unmask a serial killer in San Francisco

The Jackson women, Indiana and Amanda, have always had each other. Yet, while their bond is strong, mother and daughter are as different as night and day. Indiana, a beautiful holistic healer, is a free-spirited bohemian. Long divorced from Amanda's father, she's reluctant to settle down with either of the men who want her-Alan, the wealthy scion of one of San Francisco's elite families, and Ryan, an enigmatic, scarred former Navy SEAL.

While her mom looks for the good in people, Amanda is fascinated by the dark side of human nature, like her father, the SFPD's Deputy Chief of Homicide. Brilliant and introverted, the MIT-bound high school senior is a natural-born sleuth addicted to crime novels and Ripper, the online mystery game she plays with her beloved grandfather and friends around the world.

When a string of strange murders occurs across the city, Amanda plunges into her own investigation, discovering, before the police do, that the deaths may be connected. But the case becomes all too personal when Indiana suddenly vanishes. Could her mother's disappearance be linked to the serial killer? Now, with her mother's life on the line, the young detective must solve the most complex mystery she's ever faced before it's too late.]]> 496 Isabel Allende 0062291408 Shirley 3 2023-books, suspense 3.29 2013 Ripper
author: Isabel Allende
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.29
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2023/04/09
date added: 2023/04/09
shelves: 2023-books, suspense
review:
This novel had a slow start. Different stories going on -from young Amanda with her online group, Ripper, who try to solve crimes - to her mom, Indiana, a free spirited woman, to the damaged Navy Seal and all the other characters in the book. It took me a while for all the pieces to start to gel together. Then it took off. A series of murders that were found to have a link by young Amanda's Ripper group. It became very real for everyone when her mom appeared to be on the way to becoming the next victim. Then it was a real roller coaster ride to the finish! My first impressions changed greatly. Suspense, unique ideas, detailed descriptions, emotions of the characters made me give this book 3.5 stars. I would have given it four stars if it hasn’t taken so long to get there!
]]> Truly Madly Guilty 27831371 The electrifying new novel from the international bestselling author, Liane Moriarty

Despite their differences, Erika and Clementine have been best friends since they were children. So when Erika needs help, Clementine should be the obvious person to turn to. Or so you'd think.

For Clementine, as a mother of a two desperately trying to practise for the audition of a lifetime, the last thing she needs is Erika asking for something, again.

But the barbecue should be the perfect way to forget their problems for a while. Especially when their hosts, Vid and Tiffany, are only too happy to distract them.

Which is how it all spirals out of control...

]]> 517 Liane Moriarty 1250069815 Shirley 3 3.59 2016 Truly Madly Guilty
author: Liane Moriarty
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2023/03/20
shelves:
review:
As a fan of Moriarty's books, I looked forward to reading Truly, Madly, Guilty. Unfortunately this one wasn't as good as past reads. The story is told with flashbacks to the night of the barbecue. The events of that night are the premise for the whole story. I found it to be tedious as the story dragged on - waiting to find out what the big event was that had occurred that night. As tidbits were revealed in the last portion of the book, it became interesting and I did enjoy that part. I thought most of the characters were well developed, although it took some time to get to know them. Bigger than life Vid, nervous Erika, grumpy Harry, etc were a distinctive collection of characters. All in all, not a bad read, but not up to Moriarty's other works. I would give it three and a half stars, not quite a four.
]]> The Guest List 52656911
The bride � The plus one � The best man � The wedding planner � The bridesmaid � The body

On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed.

But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast.

And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?]]> 319 Lucy Foley Shirley 4 3.82 2020 The Guest List
author: Lucy Foley
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2023/03/14
shelves:
review:
Well that was a twisty turn-y read! A wedding held on a remote island during a blustery storm, created the perfect backdrop to this suspenseful read. Many characters and different times of day or different times in their lives created lots of motives for the death that occurs at the wedding. Who did it? I had my suspicions but was surprised at the end anyway. Well written. Lucy Foley really knew how to keep the reader engaged right to the bitter end.
]]> <![CDATA[The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters]]> 40908064 The author of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club selection Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows follows her acclaimed America debut with this life-affirming, witty family drama—an Indian This Is Where I Leave You—about three Punjabi sisters embarking on a pilgrimage to their homeland to lay their mother to rest.

The British-born Punjabi Shergill sisters—Rajni, Jezmeen, and Shirina—were never close and barely got along growing up, and now as adults, have grown even further apart. Rajni, a school principal is a stickler for order. Jezmeen, a thirty-year-old struggling actress, fears her big break may never come. Shirina, the peacemaking "good" sister married into wealth and enjoys a picture-perfect life.

On her deathbed, their mother voices one last wish: that her daughters will make a pilgrimage together to the Golden Temple in Amritsar to carry out her final rites. After a trip to India with her mother long ago, Rajni vowed never to return. But she’s always been a dutiful daughter, and cannot, even now, refuse her mother’s request. Jezmeen has just been publicly fired from her television job, so the trip to India is a welcome break to help her pick up the pieces of her broken career. Shirina’s in-laws are pushing her to make a pivotal decision about her married life; time away will help her decide whether to meekly obey, or to bravely stand up for herself for the first time.

Arriving in India, these sisters will make unexpected discoveries about themselves, their mother, and their lives—and learn the real story behind the trip Rajni took with their Mother long ago—a momentous journey that resulted in Mum never being able to return to India again.

The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters is a female take on the Indian travel narrative. "I was curious about how different the trip would be if it were undertaken by women, who are vulnerable to different dangers in a male-dominated society," Balli Kaur Jaswal writes. "I also wanted to explore the tensions between tradition and modernity in immigrant communities, and particularly how those tensions play out among women like these sisters, who are the first generation to be raised outside of India."

Powerful, emotionally evocative, and wonderfully atmospheric, The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters is a charming and thoughtful story that illuminates the bonds of family, sisterhood, and heritage that tether us despite our differences. Funny and heartbreaking, it is a reminder of the truly important things we must treasure in our lives.]]> 312 Balli Kaur Jaswal 0062645145 Shirley 0 to-read 3.77 2019 The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters
author: Balli Kaur Jaswal
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/03/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Prime Witness (Paul Madriani, #2)]]> 398400 Compelling Evidence, is tagged as the special prosecutor who must find the murderer, dubbed "the Putah Creek Killer" - and quickly. Following a trail of mounting physical evidence, Madriani and the police are led to a college security guard, who is arraigned on multiple charges of murder. But things begin to spin out of control when Madriani confronts Adrian Chambers, the suspect's defense attorney, who harbors a checkered past and a deep-seated vendetta against Paul. Even worse, while the evidence linking the suspect to the first four slayings is irrefutable, something is clearly different with the last two murders.

As the trial slowly proceeds, Madriani begins to realize there is another killer at large. Only during the trial - when he is fighting for the conviction of one killer and the identification of another - does Madriani discover terrifying answers that go far deeper than anyone imagined.

Answers that will shock, mesmerize, and hold the reader captive until the last page.

]]> 406 Steve Martini 051511264X Shirley 3 2023-books, crime 3.97 1993 Prime Witness (Paul Madriani, #2)
author: Steve Martini
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.97
book published: 1993
rating: 3
read at: 2023/03/12
date added: 2023/03/13
shelves: 2023-books, crime
review:
Well, I can’t say I enjoyed the read. Maybe I’m just not a fan of courtroom stories but this one seemed to drag on. While not poorly written, it just didn’t engage me as a reader. It started off with some murders and seemed that it would be an interesting book. But then went to the lawyers and the tactics they use and the games they play. The ending became fast paced once again - but too little, too late. For me, anyway.
]]> Women Talking 40046077
While the men of the colony are off in the city, attempting to raise enough money to bail out the rapists and bring them home, these women—all illiterate, without any knowledge of the world outside their community and unable even to speak the language of the country they live in—have very little time to make a choice: Should they stay in the only world they’ve ever known or should they dare to escape?

Based on real events and told through the “minutes� of the women’s all-female symposium, Toews’s masterful novel uses wry, politically engaged humor to relate this tale of women claiming their own power to decide.]]> 216 Miriam Toews 1635572584 Shirley 3 2023-books, realistic-fiction
The story is horrific because it really happened. Mennonite men drugging and raping women and children in Bolivia! A book exposing this horror sounded like the right thing to do. Sadly the 'story' was skimmed over and the entire book was 'women talking' about what they should do - stay and fight or run while they had the chance. The whole book takes place in the hayloft and listening to the women talk initially sounded like a good way to reveal the story but they wandered away from the reason for meeting so many times, went off on tangents, deliberated the correct word to use- it was frustrating! I wanted to yell, 'you don’t have time for all this, make a decision and get your plans in place!� I was hard pressed to finish reading but it was a short book so I carried on.

I never did keep all the characters straight save for Ona and the young girls. The others all blended together - who was the mother of who again? I would have to go back and find the spot where the childrens' caregiver is brought into the story - Nettie. But I can’t fathom why she was happy to be called Melvin near the end? Maybe I missed something?

And these women were so very concerned about following their Mennonite beliefs and customs but yet they told one lie after another to Klauss who had returned to the village. Lies about the horses, about what they were doing in the hayloft and so many more. Seems they didn’t have a problem breaking from their beliefs in this case.

I wanted to enjoy this book, but the story wasn’t really there, and the writing style was unusual and not conducive to telling the story. Three stars is a stretch - more like 2 & 1/2.
]]> 3.61 2018 Women Talking
author: Miriam Toews
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2023/02/17
date added: 2023/02/18
shelves: 2023-books, realistic-fiction
review:
Well, I had to think hard whether I would rate this book a 2 or a 3. I have hesitated to read this one for a long time, even though it sat in my pile of books to read. Maybe the cover had something to do with it - just didn’t appeal. Then the film came out and I was suddenly anxious to know the story.

The story is horrific because it really happened. Mennonite men drugging and raping women and children in Bolivia! A book exposing this horror sounded like the right thing to do. Sadly the 'story' was skimmed over and the entire book was 'women talking' about what they should do - stay and fight or run while they had the chance. The whole book takes place in the hayloft and listening to the women talk initially sounded like a good way to reveal the story but they wandered away from the reason for meeting so many times, went off on tangents, deliberated the correct word to use- it was frustrating! I wanted to yell, 'you don’t have time for all this, make a decision and get your plans in place!� I was hard pressed to finish reading but it was a short book so I carried on.

I never did keep all the characters straight save for Ona and the young girls. The others all blended together - who was the mother of who again? I would have to go back and find the spot where the childrens' caregiver is brought into the story - Nettie. But I can’t fathom why she was happy to be called Melvin near the end? Maybe I missed something?

And these women were so very concerned about following their Mennonite beliefs and customs but yet they told one lie after another to Klauss who had returned to the village. Lies about the horses, about what they were doing in the hayloft and so many more. Seems they didn’t have a problem breaking from their beliefs in this case.

I wanted to enjoy this book, but the story wasn’t really there, and the writing style was unusual and not conducive to telling the story. Three stars is a stretch - more like 2 & 1/2.

]]> The Winners (Beartown, #3) 60318890
As the locals of Beartown struggle to overcome the past, great change is on the horizon. Someone is coming home after a long time away. Someone will be laid to rest. Someone will fall in love, someone will try to fix their marriage, and someone will do anything to save their children. Someone will submit to hate, someone will fight, and someone will grab a gun and walk towards the ice rink.

So what are the residents of Beartown willing to sacrifice for their home?]]> 671 Fredrik Backman Shirley 5
Backman does such a great job getting us to 'see' his characters. His writing is excellent. From the first page you know there will be sadness in this one, and I found Backman's style to be a bit different in this book, especially in the latter part of the book, where he tells us what will be coming, like an outsider looking over the town and its people.

He did give a lot of the backstory in this book, but I don’t think I would have enjoyed this one as much without reading the first two. So if you are new to this series, I would recommend reading them in order. Beartown really hooked me in and made me want to read the rest.]]> 4.45 2022 The Winners (Beartown, #3)
author: Fredrik Backman
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2023/02/10
date added: 2023/02/11
shelves: 2023-books, fiction, realistic-fiction
review:
Wow! Another great book by Backman to complete the trilogy! I have so enjoyed this series. The size of this book seemed a bit daunting when I began, but now I’m sorry it's over!

Backman does such a great job getting us to 'see' his characters. His writing is excellent. From the first page you know there will be sadness in this one, and I found Backman's style to be a bit different in this book, especially in the latter part of the book, where he tells us what will be coming, like an outsider looking over the town and its people.

He did give a lot of the backstory in this book, but I don’t think I would have enjoyed this one as much without reading the first two. So if you are new to this series, I would recommend reading them in order. Beartown really hooked me in and made me want to read the rest.
]]> The Girl Who Made Them Pay 51906044 Think twice about who you trust�

Two friends, Asha and Katy, land at Heathrow International airport after a terrifying transatlantic flight. The brutal men hunting them are a continent away. Or so they think.

Just as they let their guard down, a man in a black suit pushes Katy into a waiting London cab.

With one thin clue to guide her, Asha races across London to find her friend. But every step embroils her deeper in the seedy back alleys of the red-light district.

Just as the trail gets cold, three strangers offer to help her. But are they truly who they say they are?

Asha has no choice. Time is running out and Katy’s captors are ruthless.

Her next decision could cost her life. Or Katy’s�.
_____________________________

The Red Heeled Rebels international crime thrillers

� BOOK ONE: The Girl Who Ran Away
� BOOK TWO: The Girl Who Made Them Pay
� BOOK THREE: The Girl Who Fought to Kill
� BOOK FOUR: The Girl Who Broke Free
� BOOK FIVE: The Girl Who Knew Their Names
� BOOK SIX: The Girl Who Never Forgot


There is no graphic violence, heavy cursing, or explicit sex in this series. No dog is ever harmed, but the villains always are.


The Red Heeled Rebels international crime thriller series is now complete.]]> Tikiri Herath Shirley 3 2023-books, realistic-fiction 4.35 2018 The Girl Who Made Them Pay
author: Tikiri Herath
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2023/01/12
date added: 2023/01/14
shelves: 2023-books, realistic-fiction
review:
A story with suspense, crime, friendship and struggles to survive. After a race to leave the country before being trafficked, Asha and Katy hope they are safe, only to have Katy kidnapped upon their arrival at the airport. What follows is Asha's efforts to find her friend and save them both. She ends up teamed up with a few more young people in similar situations. Together they work to rescue Katy and escape their pursuers. Lots of places visited in this book, some good descriptions of the places they were in. A few things I wondered about was how they managed without money? Katy did have a packet of money they had stolen that was used later in the story. How she managed to keep that packet safe is stretching belief a little! This is part of a series. I have not read the earlier book but it didn’t seem to be difficult to pick up where it left off.
]]> <![CDATA[Time of My Life (Time After Time #1)]]> 56785300
She’s late to the same meeting.
Endures the same soul crushing lectures from her bosses, who ultimately fire her anyway.
And—the cherry on top—she gets to experience getting dumped on repeat.

Jane finds herself stuck reliving the same disasters all day long and no matter what she changes, or how she tries to do things different, it all ends in the same abysmal mess. Mostly because her struggle with social anxiety hasn’t been cured by being stuck in a time loop on the worst day of her life. Go figure.

But then . . . she discovers her long-time crush wants to be more than friends. Freshly motivated to get them beyond their first date, can Jane find a way to break free from the cycle tormenting her? Or will her happily ever after be over before it could begin?

Time of My Life is a full-length standalone novel and the first in a new series of time-themed romantic comedies! Each story will feature new characters and can be read in any order.]]> 213 Mary Frame Shirley 3 2022-books, fiction 3.83 2021 Time of My Life (Time After Time #1)
author: Mary Frame
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2022/12/28
date added: 2022/12/29
shelves: 2022-books, fiction
review:
Jane relives the same day every day - stuck in a time loop. She starts to eventually figure out how to make small changes in her day. An interesting concept - a little weird though.
]]> <![CDATA[The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo]]> 32620332
Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the �80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.]]> 389 Taylor Jenkins Reid 1501139231 Shirley 0 to-read 4.39 2017 The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/12/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Perfect Marriage (Perfect, #1)]]> 53450790 Would you defend your husband if he was accused of killing his mistress?

Sarah Morgan is a successful and powerful defense attorney in Washington D.C. At 33 years old, she is a named partner at her firm and life is going exactly how she planned.

The same cannot be said for her husband, Adam. He is a struggling writer who has had little success in his career. He begins to tire of his and Sarah’s relationship as she is constantly working.

Out in the secluded woods, at Adam and Sarah’s second home, Adam engages in a passionate affair with Kelly Summers.

Then, one morning everything changes. Adam is arrested for Kelly’s murder. She had been found stabbed to death in Adam and Sarah’s second home.

Sarah soon finds herself playing the defender for her own husband, a man accused of murdering his mistress.

But is Adam guilty or is he innocent?]]> 337 Jeneva Rose 1913419657 Shirley 3 2022-books, suspense ]]> 3.90 2020 The Perfect Marriage (Perfect, #1)
author: Jeneva Rose
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2022/12/15
date added: 2022/12/16
shelves: 2022-books, suspense
review:
A wife who is a lawyer defends her husband when he is accused of murder. She is hurt by his affair but seems determined to do her best to fight for him in court. An interesting read with an ending that was surprising. Didn’t see that coming! The book was written with chapters alternating between Adam Morgan and his wife Sarah Morgan. In this way we were given a glimpse of what they were thinking as the case headed to trial. About halfway through the book, the writing style seemed to change - I almost wondered if two people were writing this book. After a bit, it resumed the original writing form.

]]> The Strangers 60623249 #1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER
WINNER OF THE ATWOOD GIBSON WRITERS' TRUST PRIZE FOR FICTION
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2022 MANITOBA BOOK AWARDS' CAROL SHIELDS WINNIPEG BOOK AWARD, MARGARET LAURENCE AWARD FOR FICTION, AND MCNALLY ROBINSON BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD
LONGLISTED FOR THE 2021 SCOTIABANK GILLER PRIZE
A GLOBE & MAIL BEST BOOK

From the bestselling author of The Break comes a staggering intergenerational saga that explores how connected we are, even when we're no longer together--even when we're forced apart.

Cedar has nearly forgotten what her family looks like. Phoenix has nearly forgotten what freedom feels like. And Elsie has nearly given up hope. Nearly.

After time spent in foster homes, Cedar goes to live with her estranged father. Although she grapples with the pain of being separated from her mother, Elsie, and sister, Phoenix, she's hoping for a new chapter in her life, only to find herself once again in a strange house surrounded by strangers. From a youth detention centre, Phoenix gives birth to a baby she'll never get to raise and tries to forgive herself for all the harm she's caused (while wondering if she even should). Elsie, struggling with addiction and determined to turn her life around, is buoyed by the idea of being reunited with her daughters and strives to be someone they can depend on, unlike her own distant mother. These are the Strangers, each haunted in her own way. Between flickering moments of warmth and support, the women diverge and reconnect, fighting to survive in a fractured system that pretends to offer success but expects them to fail. Facing the distinct blade of racism from those they trusted most, they urge one another to move through the darkness, all the while wondering if they'll ever emerge safely on the other side.

A breathtaking companion to her bestselling debut The Break, Vermette's The Strangers brings readers into the dynamic world of the Stranger family, the strength of their bond, the shared pain in their past, and the light that beckons from the horizon. This is a searing exploration of race, class, inherited trauma, and matrilineal bonds that--despite everything--refuse to be broken.]]> Katherena Vermette Shirley 3 2022-books, fiction 4.00 2021 The Strangers
author: Katherena Vermette
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2022/09/23
date added: 2022/12/12
shelves: 2022-books, fiction
review:
I give The Strangers 3.5 stars. Very real and down to earth. Very revealing in the lives and struggles of some Métis families. Sad and somewhat depressing to read. Enjoyed all the local references from my home town. I enjoyed the author's writing style. Felt very familiar and straight forward.
]]> The It Girl 59345249
Vivacious, bright, occasionally vicious, and the ultimate It girl, she quickly pulled Hannah into her dazzling orbit. Together, they developed a group of devoted and inseparable friends—Will, Hugh, Ryan, and Emily—during their first term. By the end of the second, April was dead.

Now, a decade later, Hannah and Will are expecting their first child, and the man convicted of killing April, former Oxford porter John Neville, has died in prison. Relieved to have finally put the past behind her, Hannah’s world is rocked when a young journalist comes knocking and presents new evidence that Neville may have been innocent. As Hannah reconnects with old friends and delves deeper into the mystery of April’s death, she realizes that the friends she thought she knew all have something to hide� including a murder.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of One by One returns with an unputdownable mystery following a woman on the search for answers a decade after her friend’s murder.

]]> 423 Ruth Ware 1982155264 Shirley 0 to-read 3.81 2022 The It Girl
author: Ruth Ware
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/12/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Daughters of the Occupation 58842755 400 Shelly Sanders 0063226669 Shirley 4 historical-fiction 4.21 2022 Daughters of the Occupation
author: Shelly Sanders
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/11/26
date added: 2022/11/27
shelves: historical-fiction
review:
A very compelling read. The Jewish population living in Latvia during the war are treated so horrifically - thousands massacred, families ripped apart, businesses stolen and more. The story alternates between war time and present day as Sarah tries to discover more about her mother's and grandmother's pasts. Finding out the truth about their struggles is difficult but necessary for Sarah to try to provide some peace for her bitter grandmother. Well written, engaging, definitely held my interest!
]]> Apples Never Fall 56143578 #1 New York Times Bestseller
A Peacock Original TV Series–Streaming Soon

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Liane Moriarty comes a novel that looks at marriage, siblings, and how the people we love the most can hurt us the deepest

The Delaney family love one another dearly—it’s just that sometimes they want to murder each other . . .

If your mother was missing, would you tell the police? Even if the most obvious suspect was your father?

This is the dilemma facing the four grown Delaney siblings.

The Delaneys are fixtures in their community. The parents, Stan and Joy, are the envy of all of their friends. They’re killers on the tennis court, and off it their chemistry is palpable. But after fifty years of marriage, they’ve finally sold their famed tennis academy and are ready to start what should be the golden years of their lives. So why are Stan and Joy so miserable?

The four Delaney children—Amy, Logan, Troy, and Brooke—were tennis stars in their own right, yet as their father will tell you, none of them had what it took to go all the way. But that’s okay, now that they’re all successful grown-ups and there is the wonderful possibility of grandchildren on the horizon.

One night a stranger named Savannah knocks on Stan and Joy’s door, bleeding after a fight with her boyfriend. The Delaneys are more than happy to give her the small kindness she sorely needs. If only that was all she wanted.

Later, when Joy goes missing, and Savannah is nowhere to be found, the police question the one person who remains: Stan. But for someone who claims to be innocent, he, like many spouses, seems to have a lot to hide. Two of the Delaney children think their father is innocent, two are not so sure—but as the two sides square off against each other in perhaps their biggest match ever, all of the Delaneys will start to reexamine their shared family history in a very new light.]]> 467 Liane Moriarty 1250220254 Shirley 4 2022-books, fiction 3.69 2021 Apples Never Fall
author: Liane Moriarty
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2022/11/11
date added: 2022/11/19
shelves: 2022-books, fiction
review:

]]> Grown Ups 43779862
Johnny Casey, his two brothers Ed and Liam, their beautiful, talented wives and all their kids spend a lot of time together - birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, weekends away. And they're a happy family. Johnny's wife, Jessie - who has the most money - insists on it.

Under the surface, though, conditions are murkier. While some people clash, other people like each other far too much . . .

Everything stays under control until Ed's wife Cara, gets concussion and can't keep her thoughts to herself. One careless remark at Johnny's birthday party, with the entire family present, starts Cara spilling out all their secrets.

In the subsequent unravelling, every one of the adults finds themselves wondering if it's time - finally - to grow up?]]> 636 Marian Keyes 0718179749 Shirley 3 2022-books, fiction 3.89 2020 Grown Ups
author: Marian Keyes
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2022/10/14
date added: 2022/10/15
shelves: 2022-books, fiction
review:
I would rate Grown Ups at 3.5 stars. It was slow going in the beginning but it picked up speed in the latter part of the book. A dysfunctional family where who ends up with who is surprising. Some odd characters to be sure. But Keyes wrapped it all up with all the odd bits and bobs to create an enjoyable read.
]]> The Long Weekend 58466761
Dark Fell Barn is a “perfectly isolated� retreat, or so says its website when Jayne books a reservation for her friends. A quiet place, far removed from the rest of the world, is exactly what they need.

The women arrive for a girls� night ahead of their husbands. There’s ex-Army Jayne, hardened and serious, but also damaged. Ruth, the driven doctor and new mother who is battling demons of her own. Young Emily, just wed and insecure, the newest addition of this tight-knit band. Missing this year is Edie, who was the glue holding them together until her husband died suddenly.

But what they hoped would be a relaxing break soon turns to horror. Upon arrival at Dark Fell Barn, the women find a devastating note claiming one of their husbands will be murdered. There are no phones, no cell service to check on their men. Friendships fracture as the situation spins wildly out of control. Betrayal can come in many forms.

This group has kept each other’s secrets for far too long.]]> 336 Gilly Macmillan 006307432X Shirley 4 2022-books, suspense 3.41 2022 The Long Weekend
author: Gilly Macmillan
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.41
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/09/07
date added: 2022/09/08
shelves: 2022-books, suspense
review:
3.5 rounded up to 4. Great storyline had me intrigued. Three women alone at an isolated retreat, none of the husbands can make it there, and an ominous letter to the women about a death that will be occurring, had me hooked - but then it seemed to drag on. Excellent descriptions of the dark and stormy night - I felt I was living it! Lots of twists and hooks to keep the reader wondering about who was behind everything. I was surprised! Then the book took off in the later part, making it a 'not to be put down' read. A few parts seemed a bit far fetched to me - new mom Ruth being such a mess, the police officer getting in touch with Jayne later on and a few more spots. But all in all, it turned out to be a suspenseful, exciting read!
]]> I Know You Know 36461454
Twenty years ago, eleven-year-olds Charlie Paige and Scott Ashby were murdered in the city of Bristol, their bodies dumped near a dog racing track. A man was convicted of the brutal crime, but decades later, questions still linger.

For his whole life, filmmaker Cody Swift has been haunted by the deaths of his childhood best friends. The loose ends of the police investigation consume him so much that he decides to return to Bristol in search of answers. Hoping to uncover new evidence, and to encourage those who may be keeping long-buried secrets to speak up, Cody starts a podcast to record his findings. But there are many people who don’t want the case—along with old wounds—reopened so many years after the tragedy, especially Charlie’s mother, Jess, who decides to take matters into her own hands.

When a long-dead body is found in the same location the boys were left decades before, the disturbing discovery launches another murder investigation. Now Detective John Fletcher, the investigator on the original case, must reopen his dusty files and decide if the two murders are linked. With his career at risk, the clock is ticking and lives are in jeopardy…]]> 384 Gilly Macmillan 0062698613 Shirley 3 2022-books, crime 3.33 2018 I Know You Know
author: Gilly Macmillan
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.33
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2022/08/27
date added: 2022/08/28
shelves: 2022-books, crime
review:
I have read other books by this author and enjoyed them but this one not quite as much. After a decades old murder of two young boys, the case is brought back to life by a podcaster delving into what really happened in the past. The ending seemed to come together quickly and I’m still not exactly sure what transpired. It was an okay read for a crime/ mystery novel but not great.
]]> A Spot of Bother 4701
At 61, George is settling down to a comfortable retirement, building a shed in his garden, reading historical novels and listening to a bit of light jazz. Then his tempestuous daughter, Katie, announces that she is getting re-married, to the deeply inappropriate Ray. Her family is not pleased � as her brother Jamie observes, Ray has “strangler’s hands.� Katie can’t decide if she loves Ray, or loves the wonderful way he has with her son Jacob, and her mother Jean is a bit put out by all the planning and arguing the wedding has occasioned, which get in the way of her quite fulfilling late-life affair with one of her husband’s ex-colleagues. And the tidy and pleasant life Jamie has created crumbles when he fails to invite his lover, Tony, to the dreaded nuptials.

Unnoticed in the uproar, George discovers a sinister lesion on his hip, and quietly begins to lose his mind.

The way these damaged people fall apart � and come together � as a family is the true subject of Haddon’s disturbing yet amusing portrait of a dignified man trying to go insane politely.

A SPOT OF BOTHER is Mark Haddon’s unforgettable follow-up to the internationally beloved bestseller THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME. Here the madness � literally � of family life proves rich comic fodder for Haddon’s crackling prose and bittersweet insights into misdirected love.]]> 354 Mark Haddon 0385520514 Shirley 4 2022-books, fiction 3.50 2006 A Spot of Bother
author: Mark Haddon
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at: 2022/08/13
date added: 2022/08/14
shelves: 2022-books, fiction
review:
An interesting read. I devoured it quite quickly - always a sign I am enjoying the content. A dysfunctional family trying to deal with planning a wedding while the father in the family is slowly going insane. Well written with a dry humour.
]]> <![CDATA[To Have and to Hold (The Vows Trilogy, #1)]]> 49803803
In the small town of Beckland, Ohio, danger is the last thing that Emma expects, but since Liam’s arrival, danger is waiting around every corner.
]]> 166 Heidi Renee Mason 1925853462 Shirley 3 2022-books, fiction 3.85 To Have and to Hold (The Vows Trilogy, #1)
author: Heidi Renee Mason
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.85
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/07/28
date added: 2022/07/29
shelves: 2022-books, fiction
review:
A quick light read. A widow with three children who has sworn off men meets and falls in love with Liam. There is more to Liam’s story than is first revealed. A nice summer read.
]]> The Return 49405179 In the romantic tradition of Dear John and The Lucky One, #1 New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sparks returns with the story of an injured Navy doctor -- and two women whose secrets will change the course of his life.

Trevor Benson never intended to move back to New Bern, NC. But when a mortar blast outside the hospital where he worked as an orthopedic surgeon sent him home from Afghanistan with devastating injuries, the dilapidated cabin he inherited from his grandfather seemed as good a place to regroup as any.
Tending to his grandfather's beloved bee hives while gearing up for a second stint in medical school, Trevor isn't prepared to fall in love with a local . . . and yet, from their very first encounter, his connection with Natalie Masterson can't be ignored. But even as she seems to reciprocate his feelings, she remains frustratingly distant, making Trevor wonder what she's hiding.

Further complicating his stay in New Bern is the presence of a sullen teenage girl, Callie, who lives in the trailer park down the road from his grandfather's cabin. Claiming to be 19, she works at the local sundries store and keeps to herself. When he discovers she was once befriended by his grandfather, Trevor hopes Callie can shed light on the mysterious circumstances of his grandfather's death, but she offers few clues -- until a crisis triggers a race that will uncover the true nature of Callie's past, one more intertwined with the elderly man's passing than Trevor could ever have anticipated.

In his quest to unravel Natalie and Callie's secrets, Trevor will learn the true meaning of love and forgiveness . . . and that in life, to move forward, we must often return to the place where it all began.

]]> 355 Nicholas Sparks 1538728575 Shirley 3 2022-books, fiction 3.77 2020 The Return
author: Nicholas Sparks
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2022/07/25
date added: 2022/07/25
shelves: 2022-books, fiction
review:
I enjoy the easy reads that Sparks' novels provide and the romance. This was an ok read but not as well written as some. Trevor a doctor who was injured in Afghanistan returns to restart his life in the small town of New Bern, where he spent time as a child with his beloved grandfather. Two women come into his life, both of whom give him lots of time to think and worry. The book is written from his point of view, and seemed to be a bit slow moving and filled with many details. An enjoyable story, even though it wasn't terribly thought provoking or exciting.
]]> <![CDATA[The Brutal Telling (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #5)]]> 6449551
Chaos is coming, old son.

With those words the peace of Three Pines is shattered. As families prepare to head back to the city and children say goodbye to summer, a stranger is found murdered in the village bistro and antiques store. Once again, Chief Inspector Gamache and his team are called in to strip back layers of lies, exposing both treasures and rancid secrets buried in the wilderness.
No one admits to knowing the murdered man, but as secrets are revealed, chaos begins to close in on the beloved bistro owner, Olivier. How did he make such a spectacular success of his business? What past did he leave behind and why has he buried himself in this tiny village? And why does every lead in the investigation find its way back to him?

As Olivier grows more frantic, a trail of clues and treasures� from first editions of Charlotte’s Web and Jane Eyre to a spider web with the word “WOE� woven in it—lead the Chief Inspector deep into the woods and across the continent in search of the truth, and finally back to Three Pines as the little village braces for the truth and the final, brutal telling.
]]> 372 Louise Penny Shirley 3 2022-books, crime 4.19 2009 The Brutal Telling (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #5)
author: Louise Penny
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at: 2022/07/13
date added: 2022/07/14
shelves: 2022-books, crime
review:
Well this is my second novel by this author. And I can’t say I enjoyed either one. It took me forever to finish this one so maybe that tainted my expectations somewhat. It just didn’t make me want to come back to it. Lots of character development as the inspector tries to solve a murder. I had a good sense of the people living in Three Pines. The ending disappointed me too. Oh well, maybe I will try another one of her novels one day - but not for awhile.
]]> Th1rt3en (Eddie Flynn, #4) 36217425 The serial killer isn't on trial.

He's on the jury...

They were Hollywood's hottest power couple. They had the world at their feet. Now one of them is dead and Hollywood star Robert Solomon is charged with the brutal murder of his beautiful wife.

This is the celebrity murder trial of the century and the defence want one man on their team: con artist turned lawyer Eddie Flynn.

All the evidence points to Robert's guilt, but as the trial begins a series of sinister incidents in the court room start to raise doubts in Eddie's mind.

What if there's more than one actor in the courtroom?

What if the killer isn't on trial? What if the killer is on the jury?]]> 356 Steve Cavanagh 1409170667 Shirley 4 crime 4.19 2018 Th1rt3en (Eddie Flynn, #4)
author: Steve Cavanagh
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2022/04/13
date added: 2022/04/14
shelves: crime
review:
Not my usual genre of book - but it was a good read. The planning that Joshua Kane went to to become a jury member on a case where he was the killer - just wow! Who would think of a storyline like that? A bit graphic, if you're squeamish at all, but well crafted. I was quite glued to the novel as it picked up speed. My only criticism is how quickly things were wrapped up in the end. Had to reread a few pages to be sure I understood what was happening.
]]> Every Step She Takes 49755448 A gripping new thriller by the author of the instant bestseller Wherever She Goes.

Sometimes there's no use running from your past. . . .

Genevieve has secrets that no one knows. In Rome she can be whoever she wants to be. Her neighbours aren't nosy; her Italian is passable; the shopkeepers and restaurant owners now see her as a local, and they let her be. It's exactly what she wants.

One morning, after getting groceries, she returns to her 500-year-old Trastevere apartment. She climbs to the very top of the staircase, the stairs narrowing the higher she goes. When she gets to her door, she puts down her bags and pushes the key into the lock . . .

. . . and the door swings open.

It's unlocked. Sometimes she doesn't lock it because break-ins aren't common in Rome. But Genevieve knows she locked the door behind her this morning. She has no doubt.

She should leave, call the police. What if someone is in her apartment, waiting for her? But she doesn't.

The apartment is empty, and exactly as she left it, perfectly tidy and not a thing out of place . . . except for the small box on her kitchen table. A box that definitely wasn't there this morning. A box postmarked from the US. A box that is addressed to "Lucy Callahan."

A name that she hasn't used in ten years.

Edge-of-your-seat riveting, K.L. Armstrong's new book will keep you turning the pages until the very end.]]> 320 K.L. Armstrong 0385693672 Shirley 3 2022-books, thriller 3.62 2020 Every Step She Takes
author: K.L. Armstrong
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2022/03/26
date added: 2022/03/27
shelves: 2022-books, thriller
review:
A fairly good book. Not sure I would class it a thriller though. Genevieve is living a new life far from home in Italy until someone from her past finds her. She is drawn back to the US with the idea that maybe her past can be reconciled, but instead she is drawn into yet another time where she is not at fault, but having to prove her innocence. There were some unexpected twists in the end that made it more exciting. I would give it 3.5 stars. A good book, but nothing too spectacular.
]]> The Silent Wife 33225794
Lara’s life looks perfect on the surface. Gorgeous doting husband Massimo, sweet little son Sandro and the perfect home. Lara knows something about Massimo. Something she can’t tell anyone else or everything Massimo has worked so hard for will be destroyed: his job, their reputation, their son. This secret is keeping Lara a prisoner in her marriage.

Maggie is married to Massimo’s brother Nico and lives with him and her troubled step-daughter. She knows all of Nico’s darkest secrets � or so she thinks. Then one day she discovers a letter in the attic which reveals a shocking secret about Nico’s first wife Caitlin. Will Maggie set the record straight or keep silent to protect those she loves?

For a family held together by lies, the truth will come at a devastating price.

A heart-wrenching, emotionally gripping read for fans of Amanda Prowse, Liane Moriarty, and Diane Chamberlain.]]> 385 Kerry Fisher 178681126X Shirley 4 2022-books, fiction 3.91 2017 The Silent Wife
author: Kerry Fisher
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2022/03/09
date added: 2022/03/10
shelves: 2022-books, fiction
review:
A very good read! Two wives, both second wives to strong Italian men, have their share of difficulties in their marriages. Maggie is personable and outgoing but struggling with being the second wife when the first is still so missed and revered. Lara is closed off and rigid but we find out why she behaves as she does is a result of her unhappy marriage to Massimo, one of the strong Italian brothers. The characters really came alive for me as the author painted them with their words and actions. A secret is discovered in the attic related to one of the first wives that starts a roller coaster of events. A few twists and turns before reaching the conclusion made for a captivating read. A story of marriage, friendship, and secrets.
]]> Songs in Ordinary Time 5182 Songs in Ordinary Time is set in the summer of 1960 - the last of quiet times and America's innocence. It centers on Marie Fermoyle, a strong but vulnerable woman whose loneliness and ambition for her children make her easy prey for the dangerous con man Omar Duvall. Marie's children are Alice, seventeen - involved with a troubled young priest; Norm, sixteen - hotheaded and idealistic; and Benjy, twelve - isolated and misunderstood, and so desperate for his mother's happiness that he hides the deadly truth only he knows about Duvall. Among a fascinating cast of characters we meet the children's alcoholic father, Sam Fermoyle, now living with his senile mother and embittered sister; Sam's meek brother-in-law, who makes anonymous "love" calls from the bathroom of his ailing appliance store; and the Klubock family, who - in complete contrast to the Fermoyles - live an orderly life in the perfect house next door.

An Oprah Winfrey Book Club pick.

]]> 740 Mary McGarry Morris Shirley 3 2022-books, fiction
It is well written - but too long! Everyone in this novel has problems. Characters are well developed though and I truly felt I could visualize them. But it was a bit depressing that the characters seemed not to be able to pull themselves out of their situations. The only one I had any hope for in the end was dysfunctional Blue Mooney!

I was disappointed in the abrupt ending. An interesting read nonetheless.]]> 3.71 1995 Songs in Ordinary Time
author: Mary McGarry Morris
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.71
book published: 1995
rating: 3
read at: 2022/02/22
date added: 2022/02/23
shelves: 2022-books, fiction
review:
Well this seemed to be the book that never ended! Very long. It took a while for me to get caught up in it but then I wanted to keep reading to see how it all turned out. For those reasons I would rate it 3 to 3.5 stars.

It is well written - but too long! Everyone in this novel has problems. Characters are well developed though and I truly felt I could visualize them. But it was a bit depressing that the characters seemed not to be able to pull themselves out of their situations. The only one I had any hope for in the end was dysfunctional Blue Mooney!

I was disappointed in the abrupt ending. An interesting read nonetheless.
]]> The Four Winds 53138081 Texas, 1934. Millions are out of work and a drought has broken the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as the crops are failing, the water is drying up, and dust threatens to bury them all. One of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era, has arrived with a vengeance.

In this uncertain and dangerous time, Elsa Martinelli—like so many of her neighbors—must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or go west, to California, in search of a better life. The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American Dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes an epic novel of love and heroism and hope, set against the backdrop of one of America’s most defining eras—the Great Depression.

Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9781250178602]]> 464 Kristin Hannah 1250178606 Shirley 0 to-read 4.27 2021 The Four Winds
author: Kristin Hannah
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/01/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> What Alice Forgot 6469165
Alice is twenty-nine. She adores sleep, chocolate, and her ramshackle new house. She’s newly engaged to the wonderful Nick and is pregnant with her first baby.

There’s just one problem.
All that was ten years ago �

Alice has slipped in a step aerobics class, hit her head and lost a decade. Now she’s a grown-up, bossy mother of three in the middle of a nasty divorce and her beloved sister Elisabeth isn’t speaking to her. This is her life but not as she knows it.

Clearly Alice has made some terrible mistakes.
Just how much can happen in a decade?

Can she ever get back to the woman she used to be?]]> 487 Liane Moriarty 0141043768 Shirley 4 2022-books, fiction 4.06 2010 What Alice Forgot
author: Liane Moriarty
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2022/01/24
date added: 2022/01/25
shelves: 2022-books, fiction
review:
I have enjoyed another of Moriarty's books! Neat concept that Alice sustains a bump on the head and forgets the last ten years of her life. While struggling to remember events, people and family, it's as if she gets a do over of her life. I was really hoping for a happy ending for Alice and Nick throughout the book! Interesting that she gets to see two sides of herself - the happy woman lacking in self confidence but filled with joy - to the organized super mom without a lot of joy in her life. Concepts of family, friendships and marriage are explored. A very entertaining read.
]]> The Huntress 40245700 In the aftermath of war, the hunter becomes the hunted�

Bold and fearless, Nina Markova always dreamed of flying. When the Nazis attack the Soviet Union, she risks everything to join the legendary Night Witches, an all-female night bomber regiment wreaking havoc on the invading Germans. When she is stranded behind enemy lines, Nina becomes the prey of a lethal Nazi murderess known as the Huntress, and only Nina’s bravery and cunning will keep her alive.

Transformed by the horrors he witnessed from Omaha Beach to the Nuremberg Trials, British war correspondent Ian Graham has become a Nazi hunter. Yet one target eludes him: a vicious predator known as the Huntress. To find her, the fierce, disciplined investigator joins forces with the only witness to escape the Huntress alive: the brazen, cocksure Nina. But a shared secret could derail their mission unless Ian and Nina force themselves to confront it.

Growing up in post-war Boston, seventeen-year-old Jordan McBride is determined to become a photographer. When her long-widowed father unexpectedly comes homes with a new fiancée, Jordan is thrilled. But there is something disconcerting about the soft-spoken German widow. Certain that danger is lurking, Jordan begins to delve into her new stepmother’s past—only to discover that there are mysteries buried deep in her family . . . secrets that may threaten all Jordan holds dear.

In this immersive, heart-wrenching story, Kate Quinn illuminates the consequences of war on individual lives, and the price we pay to seek justice and truth.]]> 560 Kate Quinn Shirley 4 4.32 2019 The Huntress
author: Kate Quinn
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2022/01/13
date added: 2022/01/13
shelves: 2022-books, historical-fiction
review:
This seemed to be a very long book and took me some time to get through it. But I’m glad I did. Another work of historical fiction. Female pilot bombers in the war with Nina as the main character. Her story is told from her early years leading a difficult life to her flying years and then to assisting with hunting down war criminals to bring them to justice. The story goes back and forth in time filling in all the gaps. Nina with her team is on the hunt for a notorious war criminal. She has a personal interest in this one. The story is well told and held my interest throughout.
]]> Miss Benson's Beetle 52674676 She's going too far to go it alone.

It is 1950. London is still reeling from World War II, and Margery Benson, a schoolteacher and spinster, is trying to get through life, surviving on scraps. One day, she reaches her breaking point, abandoning her job and small existence to set out on an expedition to the other side of the world in search of her childhood obsession: an insect that may or may not exist--the golden beetle of New Caledonia. When she advertises for an assistant to accompany her, the woman she ends up with is the last person she had in mind. Fun-loving Enid Pretty in her tight-fitting pink suit and pom-pom sandals seems to attract trouble wherever she goes. But together these two British women find themselves drawn into a cross-ocean adventure that exceeds all expectations and delivers something neither of them expected to find: the transformative power of friendship.]]> 352 Rachel Joyce 0593230957 Shirley 4 2021-books, fiction 4.03 2020 Miss Benson's Beetle
author: Rachel Joyce
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2021/12/18
date added: 2021/12/20
shelves: 2021-books, fiction
review:
Two ladies that are complete opposites head off to New Caledonia in search of a golden beetle. They have a difficult journey but over the course of the journey, they become good friends and really end up needing one another. There were funny moments and heart breaking moments. An entertaining read.
]]> Run Away 44781614 You've lost your daughter.

She's addicted to drugs and to an abusive boyfriend. And she's made it clear that she doesn't want to be found.

Then, quite by chance, you see her busking in New York's Central Park.

But she's not the girl you remember. This woman is wasted, frightened and clearly in trouble.

You don't stop to think. You approach her, beg her to come home.

She runs.

And you follow her into a dark and dangerous world you never knew existed. Where criminal gangs rule, where drugs are the main currency, and murder is commonplace.

Now it's your life on the line. And nowhere and no one is safe.]]> 384 Harlan Coben 1780894260 Shirley 4 2021-books, thriller 4.01 2019 Run Away
author: Harlan Coben
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2021/12/04
date added: 2021/12/05
shelves: 2021-books, thriller
review:
Another skillfully written book by Harlan Corban. A father trying to find his drug addicted daughter is lead into the world of violence and murders. Simon investigates his daughter's whereabouts and gets himself and his wife into a very dangerous situation. Slowly we learn about the reasons for her daughter's problems and Simon discovers secrets in his wife's past. His books never disappoint.
]]> The Humans 16130537
He is disgusted by the way humans look, what they eat, and the wars they witness on the news, and is totally baffled by concepts such as love and family. But as time goes on, he starts to realize there may be more to this weird species than he has been led to believe. He drinks wine, reads Emily Dickinson, listens to Talking Heads, and begins to bond with the family he lives with, in disguise. In picking up the pieces of the professor's shattered personal life, the narrator sees hope and redemption in the humans' imperfections and begins to question the very mission that brought him there--a mission that involves not only thwarting human progress...but murder.]]> 285 Matt Haig 1476727910 Shirley 4 2021-books, fiction 4.05 2013 The Humans
author: Matt Haig
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2021/11/20
date added: 2021/11/21
shelves: 2021-books, fiction
review:
I held off reading this book for a while. I had read another of Haig's books and thought it was just ok. When I began reading and realized an alien had come to earth to destroy several people, I almost abandoned it. Science Fiction is not my thing. But, I’m glad I continued. It was a good read, as the alien who has taken the human form of Professor Martin, has to cope with living in an alien world - earth. It has both humour and emotion as he learns what it means to be human. Facing loss, learning about love, and all the emotions that imperfect humans experience is quite an education for him and an awakening as well.
]]> Medicine Walk 18050139
What ensues is a journey through the rugged and beautiful backcountry, and a journey into the past, as the two men push forward to Eldon's end. From a poverty-stricken childhood, to the Korean War, and later the derelict houses of mill towns, Eldon relates both the desolate moments of his life and a time of redemption and love and in doing so offers Frank a history he has never known, the father he has never had, and a connection to himself he never expected.

A novel about love, friendship, courage, and the idea that the land has within it powers of healing, Medicine Walk reveals the ultimate goodness of its characters and offers a deeply moving and redemptive conclusion. Wagamese's writing soars and his insight and compassion are matched by his gift of communicating these to the reader.]]> 245 Richard Wagamese 077108918X Shirley 4 2021-books, realistic-fiction 4.28 2014 Medicine Walk
author: Richard Wagamese
name: Shirley
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2021/11/09
date added: 2021/11/09
shelves: 2021-books, realistic-fiction
review:
A powerful and moving tale. Following a young man as he tries to discover his history with a father who was not in his life growing up. Frank takes his dying father on a medicine walk into the woods at the father's request. It is difficult to read about the suffering the father went through in his last days, but also joyful in that young Frank learns about his mother and about the life of his estranged father. This book is so well written! The description of nature, the detail about the characters - it all came alive for me! A beautifully crafted experience of love, loss, courage, sadness and facing reality.
]]> The Stranger 22571540
Adam Price has a lot to lose: a comfortable marriage to a beautiful woman, two wonderful sons, and all the trappings of the American Dream: a big house, a good job, a seemingly perfect life.

Then he runs into the Stranger. When he learns a devastating secret about his wife, Corinne, he confronts her, and the mirage of perfection disappears as if it never existed at all. Soon Adam finds himself tangled in something far darker than even Corinne’s deception, and realizes that if he doesn’t make exactly the right moves, the conspiracy he’s stumbled into will not only ruin lives—it will end them.]]> 386 Harlan Coben 0525953507 Shirley 4 2021-books, thriller But it was a thriller and a good read. I will read more from this author.]]> 3.85 2015 The Stranger
author: Harlan Coben
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2021/10/29
date added: 2021/10/30
shelves: 2021-books, thriller
review:
A book about secrets. And having them uncovered only to start a path of destruction for families. This book kept me reading and I was a bit surprised with the ending. Really didn't know who was responsible for what happened to Corinne. A bit of an unusual plot with the stranger revealing secrets, not for blackmail, but to make the world a better place - really?
But it was a thriller and a good read. I will read more from this author.
]]> A Simple Favour 41796210 Now a major film starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively as a pair of mismatched best friends, each with something to hide . . .

What happened to Emily?

When her best friend, Emily, asks Stephanie to pick up her son from school she agrees happily.

Their children are classmates and best friends. And five-year-olds love being together � just like she and Emily. As a widow and stay-at-home blogger mum living in suburban Connecticut, Stephanie was lonely until she met Emily, a glamorous and successful PR executive.

The trouble is that Emily doesn't come back. No matter what the police say, Stephanie knows that she would never leave her son. Terrified, she reaches out to her fellow mummy bloggers.

And she also reaches out to Emily's husband � just to offer her support.

What Stephanie hasn't shared are the secrets buried in a murky past.

For fans of Gone Girl and Big Little Lies, A Simple Favour by Darcey Bell ratchets up the tension in a taut, unsettling, and completely absorbing thriller that holds you in its grip until the final page.]]> 371 Darcey Bell 1529004055 Shirley 3 2021-books, thriller 3.13 2017 A Simple Favour
author: Darcey Bell
name: Shirley
average rating: 3.13
book published: 2017
rating: 3
read at: 2021/10/16
date added: 2021/10/17
shelves: 2021-books, thriller
review:
A psychological suspenseful book. Two women become friends and help each other out with their young boys. One day Emily asks Stephanie to do her a simple favour - look after her son for a night. This turns into a whole story that twists and turns. An interesting plot but I found it a bit slow moving and the gullibility of the character, Stephanie, was a bit too unbelievable for me.
]]>